The agricultural history of Nigeria is intertwined with its political history. This can be assessed from the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial periods. during the pre-independence struggles and shortly after independence, before petroleum was discovered in commercial quantities, faced with the task of nation building and economic development, agriculture again beckoned and became the mainstay of the nation’s economy, The period of the colonial administration in Nigeria, 1861-1960, was punctuated by rather adhoc attention to agricultural development. During the era, considerable emphasis was placed on research and extension services. though selectively developed with preferences for cash crops against food crops, This was partly because the British colonial power abroad needed the raw materials there from to service the industries in Britain.
Nevertheless, agriculture played a pivotal role in laying the foundations for economic growth and social infrastructural development in Nigeria. This was achieved through massive investment in agriculture by both the federal and regional governments, leading to the establishment of research stations across the country. These include; Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan; National Institute for Horticultural Research and Training (NIHORT), Ibadan; Institute for Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Moor Plantation, Ibadan; National Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR),Benin; Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN), Benin; National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI), Badeji; Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Ibadan; National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, Jos; National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), umudike; National Institute for Fisheries and Fresh Water Research, Kainji; National Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Lagos; National Institute for Animal Production, Zaira; International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan; National Institute for Trypanosomaisis Research (NITR), Kaduna; and 3 Universities of Agriculture across the regions. All this was geared towards boosting agricultural yields, and were funded appropriately by the governments
It is on record that the State welfare programmes of Chief Obafemi Awolowo led Action Group (AG) in the old Western Region like free education; free health care delivery, etc were funded by the Western Regional Government using proceeds from agriculture especially cocoa. The proceeds from the popular groundnut pyramid in the Northern Region funded national edifice like the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaira amongst others. Palm oil produce in the Eastern Region equally funded University of Nigeria, Nsukka to name a few! It is an incontrovertible fact that Malaysia and Indonesia, the world present leading producers of palm oil and rubber respectively, came to NIFOR and RRIN to learn how to cultivate these basic cash crops, and even went away with some seedlings. Ironically, Nigeria now imports these products from these countries!
Nigeria blessed with both human and natural resources has never at any given time lacked the desired soil or favourable weather conditions needed for successful agricultural production. What have been lacking are massive government investments due partly to the discovering of non-productive petroleum in commercial quantities, but mainly due to the implementation of neo-liberal/anti-poor, pro-rich policies of the government that ensured total neglect of this vital sector of the economy under the guise of government having no business doing business, and the resultant underdevelopment. This explains why the various research institutes, though staffed with seasoned and world acclaimed researchers remained largely unproductive, due to under-funding and attendant dearth of facilities, could barely sustain itself left alone carried out research works. This in turn accounts for the low agricultural production and the inevitability of food items importation.
If the necessary attention is paid to agriculture and the needed investment made to develop the sector, and its potentials fully harnessed, it will provide employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths currently loitering main streets of various cities. It will equally guarantee amongst other things: alternative source of foreign exchange; poverty alleviation; food security; rural empowerment; eradication of youth restiveness and militancy; and place the economy on the part of recovering.
Presently, virtually all food items imported to the country have their traditional aboard in the states across Nigeria, where soil and weather conditions are particularly favourable for the cultivation of such crops. For instance, rice which Nigeria is presently world leading importer of can be cultivated successfully in states like Benue, Kano, Ebonyi, and Lagos; coffee, apple and strawberry are grown in Jos, Plateau state; cocoa abounds in Ekiti, Ondo and Edo; cotton is grown in Zamfara, Katsina and Oyo; palm tree and rubber plantations do well in Eastern and Niger Delta states. Root crops like cassava, yam and potatoes do well in various states across the country while Cereal crops including maize, millet, sorghum, etc are cultivated across Northern states, the same thing with leguminous plants. Livestock production is also very successful in both Northern and Southern states, fruits and vegetable are never lacking on Nigerian soil; the rivers and ocean are also rich in aquatic foods; and the country has very rich forest belt in the southern parts. The list is endless! Yet, our parasitic ruling elite still go cap in hand to lesser countries like Thailand for rice and other basic food items. This is essentially because it serves as avenues to make easy cash than developing the agriculture industry that will benefit everybody.
It’s clear from the foregoing analysis, that if the agricultural sector must be made productive and sustainable, government at all levels must be prepared to take the lead and play central rules by investing massively in the development of the industry. Contrary to the believe in government quarters that the sector should be private driven, government it should be noted cannot renege on its duties, and could therefore not cede its constitutional responsibilities of ensuring food security for it teeming population to private profiteers.
Unfortunately, the recent downgrade in oil prices, the high level of unemployment and the unproductive crude oil that has eaten deep into our cells, left us with no option than to reverse to a productive area of the economy that can be achieved in nooks and crannies of the country. We have to reverse to cave dwelling and seek light, we all have to bring back the real Nigeria of the old. WE JUST HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE FARM.
If the economy of Nigeria must be able to cater for the increasing population, the government will have to concentrate its remaining funds into making policies that will make agriculture profitable to all and sundry. In the quest to wait while the government realize itself, we as Nigerians must wake up from our slumber and start retracing our steps back to the farm.
Lets invest in crop production. Lets commence absolute animal rearing. Lets utilize the smallest lake for fishing. Lets preserve our wildlife. LETS UTILIZE THE CRUDE SOIL CONTAINING THE CRUDE OIL.The present happenings in the oil sector and generally in the economy is an opportunity God has given to us to realize where we are falling and quickly rise to the call against poverty.

Contact us on agrosolveng@gmail.com and lets help you establish in Agriculture.

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