The Problems of Agriculture in Nigeria and achievable solutions

Read on to find out the main issues and ways to change the situation.

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The main problems of agriculture in Nigeria

Today, the agricultural sector is one of the most important in the country, it employs around 70% of Nigerian Labour force. But the sector suffers because of low output, and because of that, it is getting harder to feed the increasing population. Let’s outline its main problems:

#1. Unserviceable machinery

From time to time government import some number of tractors but there are no service stations to repair or replace a parts for such machinery. If there is some problem with such a tractor, a farmer usually just park it and come back to the old way of farming.

#2. Poor infrastructure

The current state of infrastructure in many sectors resulted in the high level of the migration among able-bodied youths. Youths don’t want to stay in rural areas because there is poor infrastructure and move to cities. Because of that, the agriculture in villages loses its workforce which reduces its outputs.

#3. Education and modernization

The lack of mechanized equipment and illiteracy of most farmers is the reason why it is hard to implement modern farming methods. Many farmers still stick to archaic farm practices. Most problems of agricultural marketing in Nigeria are related to a poor level of education.

#4. Food processing issues

20-40% of the harvest is lost annually during the processing. Among the main problems we see the lack of proper storage facilities, because of that, the harvest is attacked by pests and the storage conditions themselves reduce the quality of the crops.

#5. Government policies

There is a low level of hybrid seedlings importation, and it is still not easy to get fertilizer subsidy. Today we see some government programs aimed to develop the agriculture sector, but in past years there were no qualitative programs to boost the sector.

Achievable solutions to the problems of agriculture in Nigeria

Now that we know the problems of agricultural development in Nigeria, Viable solutions can ensure a new level of the agricultural sector in the country.

#1. The mechanization of agriculture. is to provide educated farmers with modern farm machines and farm equipment.

#2. Upgrade the Agricultural Research Council to supervise, coordinate, and implement agricultural development.

#3. There should be a local manufacturers of pesticides, fertilisers etc.

#4. Introduction of new government programs to provide the incentives for able-bodied youths to be involved in the farming sector.

#5. There should be developed system of available loans at reasonable interest rates