Concerns mount over inconsistent farm input distribution in Nigeria

Onome Amuge

Agricultural productivity In Nigeria relies heavily on farm inputs such as fertiliser, seeds, and equipment. However, the late or inconsistent distribution of these inputs has been a persistent issue, hindering the country’s efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency and export surplus agricultural produce.

To address this issue, experts are calling for urgent reforms to the current system to ensure timely access to farm inputs, which would help improve food security in the country and potentially contribute to  Nigeria’s self-sufficiency goals.

Farmers, agriculturists, and stakeholders warn that timely distribution of farm inputs is crucial to achieving the government’s goals of food self-sufficiency and agricultural exports. This is as  farm inputs, such as fertilisers, seeds, and equipment, are considered the foundation of successful farming.

According to agricultural experts, farming is highly time-sensitive and contingent on the whims of nature, particularly in regions where rainfall is the primary source of water for crops. Ignoring these seasonal and environmental constraints, they warn, can lead to lower yields, reduced earnings for farmers, and widespread food insecurity across the country.

Moses Agada, a farmer in Benue State, shared his personal experience with the consequences of late distribution of farm inputs.

According to Agada, who is a member of an over 400-strong cooperative society, the tardiness of fertiliser, seed, and agrochemical deliveries has had a significant impact on their farming activities.

Agada proposed that the government could alleviate the issue of late distribution by initiating the process of input distribution well in advance of the farming season. He also urged for a substantial increase in the agriculture budget and the quantity of inputs available to local farmers, to achieve a substantial impact.

To address the problem of limited access to inputs, Agada suggested expanding the distribution network by opening agro-dealer shops in farming communities across the country. These shops, he explained, would provide easy access to inputs for farmers and help reduce the time and resources they currently expend travelling to collect them.

Afioluwa Mogaji, a renowned agribusiness expert and CEO of Xray Farms Consulting, popularly known as AfricanFarmer Mogaji, recently expressed concern over the distribution of farm inputs in Nigeria.

In a media chat, Mogaji, who is widely respected for his expertise in the food sector, raised critical issues impacting the industry in the country.

Mogaji bemoaned the current practice of distributing farm inputs, which often requires farmers to travel long distances to collect fertilizers, seeds, and chemicals. He also spoke on the inefficiencies of this process, which frequently leads to farmers selling the inputs rather than utilising them for agricultural purposes.

In further elaboration of the issue, Mogaji noted the arduous journeys farmers face, with some traveling up to four hours just to collect farm inputs. This journey, he noted, often results in significant financial strain on the farmers, many of whom are forced to sell the inputs rather than use them for their intended purpose.

Mogaji attributed this problem to the significant costs associated with logistics, which are not adequately taken into account during the distribution process.

He proposed a solution in the form of decentralising the distribution process by reviving the use of local warehouses, a practice that once flourished in the river basin areas.

Mogaji pointed out that the use of local warehouses allowed farmers to collect inputs from locations much closer to their farms, often using motorcycles to transport them. This system, however, was abandoned more than two decades ago, leaving farmers to shoulder the entire cost of logistics when collecting inputs from state capitals.

In addition to revamping the distribution system, Mogaji underscored the critical need for effective monitoring and evaluation of the process.

“If we are giving 10 trailers, it should be 10 trailers that are distributed,” he said. “You do not want to give 1,000 trailers of fertilizers, and it’s just 500 trailers that are distributed,” he stated.

Mogaji also dwelled on the importance of providing high-quality inputs, particularly hybrid seeds that are better suited to Nigeria’s climate. He pointed out that the current inputs provided to farmers are often of poor quality, resulting in suboptimal yields.

Despite the current challenges, Mogaji remained optimistic about Nigeria’s potential to achieve food security in a short time frame.

“If we focus on the right policies and people, we can solve this problem in as little as six months,” Mogaji stated. “We have all the resources and knowledge we need, we just need to channel them in the right direction,” he added.

Folorunsho Rabiu, an agro-dealer, expressed his concern over the delay in farm inputs distribution, warning that it could hinder the government’s economic diversification efforts and result in a poor harvest.

To mitigate the issue, Rabiu called on the government to adopt a proactive approach by planning ahead and demonstrating their commitment to the subsidy programme by allocating the necessary funds to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for timely payments to agro-dealers and input suppliers.

Mohammed Onoja, an agricultural economist, emphasised the importance of not only timely input distribution but also well-designed policies that create a favorable environment for farm input producers. Onoja believes this will allow them to reduce their costs and offer affordable inputs to farmers, ultimately enhancing cost-effectiveness in agriculture.

To further improve the situation, Onoja spoke on the need for the government to maintain reliable data on farmers. According to him, with accurate information, the government can plan and implement its programmes more effectively, ensuring that its interventions reach those who need them the most.

David Idoko, an agronomist, also expressed concerns over the continued practice of late inputs distribution, noting that it could have a detrimental effect on Nigeria’s food security programme.

Idoko urged the government to adopt a more open and genuine approach towards its agriculture support programs. He implored the government to strengthen its support scheme with adequate funding to facilitate timely and sufficient distribution of farm inputs to farmers.

According to Franklin Ngoforo, chairman and cofounder of Agri Crowdy, the issue of delayed farm inputs delivery is indeed a pressing challenge for many smallholder farmers across Nigeria. However, he maintained that all hope is not lost.

“For farmers with irrigation systems, the solution is more straightforward. These farmers can pivot to dry-season farming, using the fertilizers to boost off-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, or leafy greens.

By setting up simple irrigation systems or tapping into local water sources, they can extend their growing season and avoid waste. For these farmers, the late arrival of fertilisers may be less of a disaster, as they have the means to make the most of their resources even when the rains are gone,” he stated.

Ngoforo acknowledged that a significant number of smallholder farmers lack access to irrigation, making them dependent on rain-fed agriculture. In light of this, he suggested a proactive approach for farmers facing late fertiliser delivery.

Ngoforo explained that applying fertilisers to fields during the dry season, despite their late arrival, can serve as a soil-enriching technique. This allows the nutrients in the fertilisers to gradually breakdown and improve the soil over the dry months.

He also underscored that combining organic matter with late-arriving fertilisers can significantly improve soil quality and ultimately lead to better harvests during the next rainy season.