Issues About Agriculture In Nigeria
Agriculture has been the largest contributor to Nigeria’s economy. Farmers are working really hard to make sure the country has enough food in stock for market and consumption. But in recent times, tangible factors affecting the agribusinesses Nigeria include lands for large farming are fraught complications and difficult to secure. Programmes to subside fertilizer and seeds failed due to corruption in the system similar to that in the controversial fuel subsidy. The government made itself the sole importer of fertilizer, which is sold at a subsidised rate to distributors, expecting that they would pass along the savings to their customers. Other worries to the farmers include unpredictable weather which damage yields and harvests due largely to climate change. These have resulted into spiraling high cost of farming and with its corresponding food insufficiency in the country. These and many more were the engaging issues between OpenLife Agriculture correspondent, Adenike Ayankunle and the chief executive officer, Fresh Poultry Farm, Otun Olamilekan recently in Lagos
What is Fresh Poultry Farm all about?
We process turkey, guinea fowl, chicken everything that has to do with poultry. Currently, we are expanding our poultry from just ordinary poultry farm to having to do Aqua – culture. And we have other crops as well because we are doing business that has to do with agriculture.
Are there challenges in this business? And if there are, what are the challenges?
A lot of challenges. One big problem about this facility is electricity. Because we slaughter chicken and we process it and freeze it. Once there is no electricity, we would be scared that we won’t be able to meet the demand of our customers.
Another is road from where we purchase our chicken down here consume a lot of time, because much time would have been wasted on the road before they get here. There is also the challenge in hike in price too. This made us to start producing our chicken ourselves. The prices of our feed keep going higher. So these are some of the challenges.
Over the time, government and Central Bank governor have said they are supporting farmers with loans. Are you a beneficiary or are you satisfied with government support so far?
No, I am not a beneficiary of Central Bank loans. But I have benefited from other platforms. To the issue of satisfaction, am partially satisfied, I need the government to fix the electricity and they should repair the roads. I am partially am satisfied but to some extent. The dissatisfaction there are the issue of road. For me to bring the chickens and the likes to slaughter is a problem, for me to go to my farm and plant is another problem. The government has to give us more supports. If we have means of alternative energy, it would make it more convenient for us to operate. So far we have been supported by Lagos state government.
What are your projections for this farm in the next five years?
Currently, Fresh Poultry Farm is slaughtering 50 birds per week. That is approximately 200 per month and per year, it would be about 2,400 pieces. So we intend to increase the capacity to about 5,000 in the nearest future.
Also, we intend to be able to produce catfish from about 8,000 pieces and 8,000 tilapia to about 10,000 to 20,000 pieces per year. Currently, our projections and hope are to be able to increase our work tool to make our jobs easier and faster and to be able to employ more people to do the marketing procedure. We need machine that can slaughter and complete all the process.Those are our projections in the next few years.
How long have you been in this agric business?
I have been in agriculture for almost 20 years.
What are your experience so far?
At least, I can breed chicken from layer to boilers to cockerel. And I know how to plant different types of crops like watermelon, rice, banana plantain, cucumber which I have done in the past including pepper.
Talking about rice, what do you think are the challenges and problems affecting rice production in Nigeria?
First, there are different types of rice. Majorly, we are on Ofada (brown rice). One challenge that we farmers face when it comes to rice is pests. Pests are things that are inevitable in agriculture. But there are methods and ways that we can actually reduce the effect of pests. Most of the time birds used to feast on them and other insects.
These have been very difficult tasks to deal with but now we buy stunt guns to chase them away which add more to our cost.
What do you think government can do in this regards?
One, if the roads are good, it would reduce cost of transportation. And for the losses to pest, if we have more agricultural extension officers that are good in rice production to disseminate information, it will be okay.
Though I know they are doing it but they need to do more and government should pay them well. Does fertilizer have effect on land?
With my experience, I have not been practicing agriculture using fertilizer because I have a vast land, so I really cannot explain if fertilizer has effect on land because I have been practicing organic agriculture.
However, I would say that using fertilizer should be to some extent. You don’t have to use fertilizer when you can actually create your own organic chemical. I have goat and sheep that I use their faeces to fertilize the soil.
What are your advice to the upcoming youth who are interested in agribusiness?
My advice is first for the government. Government should promote agriculture and support the youth. Re – orientate the youth so that they can know that they can make money from agriculture and also if it is possible let us budget money to make silos. This would help when we harvest so that we can store our products. Many youth don’t know what agriculture entails.
So my advice to the youth is simple. Learn about agriculture. It is something that will get you going and fend for yourself. It would put food on your table. So the government has to partake while the youth also have to partake.
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