Is there hope for small scale farmers in this country? This question kept coming on and on, with no answer in sight. The government keep reiterating the need to diversify the economy; move away or reduce our reliance on oil revenue to something far more greater - Agriculture. Sincerely, the government desire to make agriculture a major revenue earner will be a mirage, if policies are not put in place to help the small scale farmers to grow to become a medium scale, and the medium to become a big or super scale farmer.

We delved into small scale farming recently. I and two guys (these two guys are currently doing their PHD programme in agriculture), we acquired a 3 acres land space (outright purchased) for this purpose, build a pen that would accommodate atleast 3500 birds and a farm house for the attendants. Started the poultry with over 3000 day old chicks with less than 2% mortalities recorded from October last year till date. We planted 1000 plantain suckers (bought from IITA) and 1000 yam ridges. Thanks to God and the expertise of all the people involved.

We desired an expansion especially for the birds, and estimated that with 5 Million Naira, we should be able to achieve our goals concerning the expansion. Everybody's saving has been expended on the current project and decided to approach a bank for a very short term facility. By short term facility, I mean paying back the principal and interest within 7 to 8 months. It was estimated with pay from their PPs plus my salary, we should be able to pay back 800k per month even at 20% interest rate.

We approached two of the banks - F bank and Z Bank for a 5M facility from the CBN agriculture loan or a personal loan (Loan to be collateralized), but couldn't get a positive response or result from either of them. Z Bank, told us that they target audience of the CBN loan are medium and big time farmers, having not less than 10000 birds, gave a lot of other excuses that are totally unacceptable. Secondly, Z Bank says that it can't has stopped given personal loan to people. As regards F Bank, we were told that they are awaiting the new management policies on loans qualification criterias, however, even if we meet all the pre-requisite qualifications, the fact that none of us have a six months operational bank account with the bank, we are not qualified for any loan.

If the quest of the government to make agriculture a major revenue earner for the nation is to see the light of the day, conscious steps must be taken to make small scale farmers access to loan facilities, else, there is no hope for young and small scale farmers got to survive and succeed in this country.

In our case, we have committed close 10 Million naira on the project without seeing or getting any return(s) at the moment. three people (2 attendants and a security man) are on our monthly pay and four other auxiliary guys that we call upon frequently to help in doing one thing or the other. Yet, to access facility that we help move the farm forward is been made unreachable and impossible for those without godfathers/mothers.

Which way for the young farmers, Nigeria?

approach some micro finance bank,they will help