Unleashing The Growth Capacity Of Small Scale Farmers -By Abachi Ungbo

It is pivotal to double our commitment towards improving the situation of a ‘constituency ’ in the agricultural sector that have remained somewhat undervalued in light of the scant appreciation that they are receiving in keeping the wheels of our food chain in motion. It’s the behind the scene activities of a plethora of small scale farmers that have made the sight of pick-up vans, lorries and articulated vehicles laden with agricultural produces and livestock plying on our bumpy roads and for the most part braving night time travels making deliveries to predetermined destination a common feature.

A motley of small scale farmers that are strewn around different corners of our country are responsible almost entirely for feeding and sustaining the food supply chain; therefore contributing to the nutritional, social, and economic needs of the country. They are preponderantly from the rural backwater notoriously known for being bare of basic necessities and amenities. And, where such exist they are almost in a state of irretrievable dysfunction.

The huge contribution of the agricultural sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is undeniable with the activities of small scale farmers occupying a pride of place in the contribution. Their roles are especially important for rural development, employment and poverty reduction. Daily they hunch over their hoes tilling the land in wet and dry seasons. They operate on scattered small lands which are either bought, family owned, inherited or rented. Quintessentially, they are subsistent in nature and capacity determines the quantity to be sold in the market in meeting numerous quotidian needs. The Family is the primary source of labour with support from hired labour in some instance and labour exchanges from other farmers. The use of rudimentary tools is the norm with improved farming practices, advisory services, market information etc practically absent. The smallholder farmer counts on his hands- on experience and efficiency in the utilization of available resources.

It has been motion without movement despite many attempts to ostensibly prop up this category of farmers. Barring any attempt at reimagining our approaches to the agricultural sector, the burden of our food needs will continue to rest on the thin shoulders of the small scale farmers in the face of the bulging population and the attendant spike in nutritional requirement. According to a report by F.A.O, the world will need to produce 70 percent more food for an additional 2.3 billion by 2050. It also, predicted that the agricultural market in Sub-Saharan Africa will grow from 200 billion dollars in 2015 to 1 trillion dollars by 2030. Furthermore, a top official of F.A.O in 2009 pointed out that feeding everyone in the world by 2050 will not be automatic and several significant challenges have to be met. Against this background, there is a strong necessity for proactive steps in adequately priming the smallholder farmers by pulling out every stop in making their contribution count significantly while helping them take advantage of the emerging opportunity.

The small holder farmers are vulnerable to a myriad of stifling factors such as price volatility and constricting activities of network of middlemen that limit the benefits from agricultural production others include effect of climate change, limited access to inputs, credit market, lack of access to market, deficient or non-existing infrastructure etc. Social ills like conflicts, kidnappings and banditry are establishing crushing foothold in rural communities with debilitating effects. All of these factors and several others have conspired in pushing the small scale farmers deeper into the abyss of poverty.

Myriad of experiences have proven that access to market and information possesses the capacity to help circumvent not a few challenges and empowering the small scale farmers financially and therefore “promoting pro-poor economic growth through enabling consumption linkages resulting in multiplier effect on growth.” Also, the small scale farmers’ productivity can be significantly bolstered through massive technology and financial support. Ndidi Nwuneli, the Managing Partner, Sahel consulting stated clearly that “it is impossible for Nigeria to achieve food security or GDP growth when more than 74% of her small-scale farmers are financially excluded. The financial inclusion is the x-factor needed to transition Nigeria farmers from subsistence to a growth phase. This will be actualized by providing farmers with funding so they can invest in needed technology that will expand operation and enable them compete with agro-entrepreneur across the world.”

Regardless of the weakness ascribed to the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) resulting into mixed results. The motivation behind its creation remains brilliant and it is highly desirable to re-work the programme in light of the many lessons learnt for proper positioning in supporting the small scale farmers. More so, genuine advocacy in pushing the interests of the small scale farmers to the front burner of public discourse and holding policy makers and government accountable needs to be supported; alongside, encouraging the activities of non-state actors and private initiatives. On the whole, our surest path is to continue to put in place policies to support agricultural development, strengthen institutional capacities, provide appropriate infrastructure, facilitate technology access and create business friendly environment for the small scale farmers.

We need to place the small scale farmers on the path of recognition for their incredible contribution and valorising them means reaching out to them just as we do when we require their electoral mandates. And, improving agricultural productivity will require lot of doings in scaling up the small-scale farmer which should start now.

ABACHI UNGBO

abachi007@yahoo.com