INSECURITY, LOW PRODUCTIVITY FUEL NIGERIA’S HIGH AGROIMPORTS – OPERATORS

 

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Operators are worried about the higher value of agricultural goods imported into Nigeria than those exported, attributing this to a plethora of challenges that must be addressed in the sector

The latest report of the National Bureau of Statistics on Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics for the first quarter of this year indicated that the value of agricultural imports in the first quarter of 2022 stood at N443.36bn, while exports was N201.59bn.

Data from the report showed that agro imports during the period exceeded exports by N241.77bn, a development that was described as worrisome by farmers and other stakeholders in the business of agriculture in Nigeria.

They attributed this to various concerns but insisted that these challenges were surmountable when confronted holistically by the Federal Government and stakeholders.

The National President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kabir Ibrahim, told our correspondent that the drop in exports was due to reduced productivity in Nigeria, as this was caused by the lack of agro-inputs and insecurity.

“I think our productivity has gone down now, which means that the quantity available to export has gone down. This is worrisome to not just farmers but to every genuine stakeholder in the agricultural industry in this country,” he stated.

Ibrahim added, “There are many reasons for this. Farming activities depend on fertilisers and inputs, and even the freedom of going to the farm is not always there. Once these activities or inputs are distorted, then productivity will definitely be affected.”

The AFAN president observed that most states that produced high economic crops were currently hit by insecurity, as this had persistently reduced the earnings from agro exports.

“If you take ginger and sesame, for instance, all the areas that produce these high value export commodities are suffering from insecurity. And that can affect the quantity and quality of products available for export,” he stated.

Ibrahim urged the federal and state governments to ensure that agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and seedlings, which were being distributed to farmers, got to the targeted beneficiaries.

He said the inputs should also be subsidised where necessary, as this would make it more accessible to farmers, adding that the worsening insecurity must be contained.

“The investments that we have in terms of fertilisers should be enhanced and subsidies on this commodity should go right down to the farmers,” he stated.

Ibrahim added, “And, of course, the fight against insecurity should be upscaled. Our security forces should take the fight to the bandits, because we have tried many things and we have not succeeded.

“We always seem to be waiting for the bandits to attack before going after them. What we should do now is to look out for them in their hideouts and fight them there. I think this should be the best approach now.

“Insecurity is currently the major factor stalling the progress we should be making in the agricultural sector and this is why we import more agricultural commodities than what we export. So, this is a very pressing factor hindering productivity.”

The AFAN president further stated that apart from reducing the country’s agro-exports, the insecurity in Nigeria currently posed a threat to  production.

He said, “There is a serious nexus between food security and insecurity. Everybody should know this. The food basket of the nation is now being bedeviled by insecurity.

“, it is an understatement to take away food security from insecurity. They are interwoven. An insecure nation is one heading towards food scarcity if the insecurity persists. So, something urgent must be done by the government
The banking industry has also decried the effect of insecurity on several interventions introduced for the agricultural sector.

The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, had said, “The Bankers’ Committee called on the Federal Government to prioritise efforts to curb the menace of insecurity to enable farming and other business activities return to normalcy.”