SETTING AGENDA FOR THE NEW MINISTERS
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will play a vital role in the change agenda of President Buhari.The former Minister in the last dispensation tried but I will grade him 20%.The tasks ahead of the current Minister are enormous but surmountable with innovative ideas and cutting edge technology as listed below:
i. Incentives: Government should package special incentives and grand prizes to young farmers who meet set standards on annual basis. The prizes should include National award, cash prizes, parcel of land, foreign agro-tourism , scholarship etc. The award should come in different categories. Young farmers should be celebrated and recognized as obtained in the entertainment industry.
ii. Agriculture financing: Instead of giving direct loans and grants to intending farmers and farmers,Government should subsidize agriculture inputs and create a platform where farmers can use their produce before harvest to secure cash advance.. Agriculture inputs supply market should be regulated and developed to attract corporate and international investors. Government should offer farmers mortgage facility to purchase titled farm lands at government approved farm settlements.The titled farm lands will give farmers access to loan from commercial banks and unconventional lenders.
Farm machineries should be made available to farmers at subsidized rate and niche market should be created to accommodate investors who are interested in leasing farm machineries and implements to farmers.
iii.Development of Agro Processing clusters: Ministry of agriculture in collaboration with States Governments, Local Governments and Private sector financing institutions should develop Agro processing clusters around farm settlements and farming communities. The processing facilities should be sold to private investors (processors) as mortgage as obtainable in residential real estate.
iv.Agriculture value chain: The Minister should work towards self-sufficiency in food production against producing for export. Our produce should at least attain secondary stage of processing before export. Producing for local consumption and raw material for our local industries should be the primary focus of the Ministry of Agriculture.
v. Improved and adequate storage: Government should work with the private sector under BOT arrange to ensure adequate storage are provided for our produce especially at the peak of harvest season. Operators of these storage facilities should be given license to run agriculture micro-finance bank which will give them power to accept produce from farmers, monetize them, offer farmers cash advance and make the produce available to farmers during off-peak period so they can maximize profit from their produce.
vi.Government should sell turn-key agriculture businesses as practiced in Rwanda against the practice of encouraging people to invest in agriculture via word of mouth.Most Nigerians will be happy to buy functional poultry houses,orchard,ranches,hatchery,seed companies,farm equipment leasing companies,rice processing factories,feed mills etc with custom made business plan and experts that will help them run such agro business.
vi. Special import tax should be levied on agriculture produce coming from other countries and the proceeds of the tax should be used to fund agriculture culture colleges,research institutes and special scholarship for agriculture students.Faculties of Agriculture in our Universities and colleges must have demonstration and functional mega farm where students must complete one year practical training before graduation.
Your suggestions, criticism are welcome.

Ukpabi Ifeanyi
World Bank development consultant trainee
A member of The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria
A member of The Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria and London
A member of The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers of Nigeria
Email: president.pabflex@gmail.com
Tel: 081-801-88781