Issues in FG’s launch of Green Alternative on agric

The launch of the Green Alternative by federal government is meant to revive the agricultural sector of the Nigerian economy. It is also expected to serve as the fulcrum for economic diversification, but experts and stakeholders in the sector wonder if this would not go the way of other similiar policies. JOHN OBA writes.

Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, while launching the administration’s Agricultural Sector Roadmap, described as “The Green Alternative:” Agriculture Promotion Policy 2016 -2020 said the current administration’s most critical components of economic plan is to position agriculture as the arrowhead of the economic recovery effort, adding that if Nigeria get agriculture right, it will get the economy right.
The vice president said the roadmap identifies key challenges such as the inability to meet domestic food requirements which is a productivity challenge driven by an input system and farming model that is likely inefficient, the lack of good seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, crop protection and the inability to export at the level required for marketing, which is typified by an inefficient system for setting and enforcing food quality, poor knowledge of target markets, a weak inspectorate system and poor coordination amongst relevant agencies.
He said: ”The Green Alternative’ sets out strategies for resolving these challenges. I am personally impressed that The Roadmap does not dismiss the Agricultural policies of the past. Indeed, the policy says that it is “building on the successes of the agricultural transformation agenda, closing the gap.”
He explained that the problem has never been a lack of policy, but the focus and capacity to stick to the plan, to modify when necessary and ensure also that the plan aligns with all aspects of the economic plan of the Government.
He however assured that the roadmap undeniably is our pathway to sustained and rapid progress in the agricultural sector.
On his part, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said ‘The Green Alternative Promotion Policy’- has five major strategic thrusts. Which are; achievement of self-sufficiency and sustainable food security, reduction in import dependence and economic losses, particularly through value addition; stimulation of agro-exports for enhanced foreign exchange earnings; enhancement of wealth and job creation-especially the provision of employment opportunities for the teeming youth population in the country and achievement of economic diversification to make our economy less oil-dependent.

Ogbeh said the road map structure stands three pillars of productivity enhancements which comprises nine key components namely: access to land, soil fertility, access to information and knowledge, access to inputs, production management, storage, processing, marketing and trade, consumption and nutrition; Crowding in Private Sector Investment, entailing ensuring greater access to finance, promoting agribusiness and ensuring investment development while the third pillar is Institutional strengthening/Realignment of the Ministry together with its parastatals and agencies.
He added that the six focal areas of interventions under this pillar are: institutional setting and roles, youth and women, infrastructure, climate smart agriculture, research and innovation and food and nutrition security.
“Some of the key targets that we are seeking to achieve- within the plan period and beyond, as quick wins, under the three pillars- include growing the agriculture sector annually between 6%-12%; doubling agricultural household incomes in 6-12 years; integrating agricultural commodity value chains into the broader supply chain; driving job growth and wealth creation, as well as ensuring enhanced capacity for foreign exchange earnings.
“Other key targets are promoting responsible use of land, water and other natural resources for sustainable livelihoods; facilitating the capacity of the country to meet her obligations to the citizenry on food security, promoting food safety and quality nutrition; and instituting improved governance architectural system in the agricultural sector. It entails promoting more collaborative actions between the Federal and State Governments through productive interface and engagement.
The Green Alternative Investment Financing and Implementation Plan- is also being developed- and will be finalized soon. It is aimed at unlocking the full potentials of the agricultural sector, through the creation of enhanced opportunities for private sector investment, and ensuring additional steady inflows of foreign direct investment into this sector,” he explained.
Speaking further, he said, the Green Alternative Roadmap Agriculture Promotion Policy, has ingrained the lessons of the Sasakawa Programme in many significant ways.
Adding that it is first and foremost, a national strategy and an action plan that recognizes the need to harness the strengths and resources of all the multi-stakeholders in the agricultural and rural development sector towards effectively rebuilding and reinvigorating the sector as part of a comprehensive plan of achieving the diversification of the national economy from an oil dependent led growth.

“The Green Alternative Roadmap, therefore, recognizes the key role of both the smallholder farmer and the large scale farmer in maximizing agricultural output, achieving increased efficiency of agricultural operations, systems and practices through private sector engagement, by entrusting the private sector  with the role of  the main growth driver of the agricultural sector.
“The private sector is also saddled with the responsibility of creating linkages with small holder farmers by availing them of better organization methods, technological access, financial services, linkages to input supply chains and markets, among others,” he said.
But experts expressed concerned that the policy may also go the way of others before it, as they believed that the government has not shown reasonable commitment to the development of the sector, as it has not really released fund into the sector more than a year in office.
Others call for the backing up of the policy with a legislation which will ensure that it implementation is durable and the vision not derail.