The devastation caused by harmful agricultural policies and banditry on farmland remains a challenge to attaining food security. In this report, CHIKA OKEKE brings to limelight the agitation of some farmers and the intricacies surrounding Africa’s food systems.
Farmers during group farming
Walking through Yewuti community in Kwali Area Council, one of Abuja's rural community, one could visibly notice massive expanse of land that was lined up with crops such as cassava, yam, maize and millet.
Though the road leading to the community was graded for easy movement of people and transportation of agricultural produce to the markets, insecurity remains a challenge due to its closeness with border states such as Kogi, Kaduna and Nasarawa.
Others communities in Kwali such as Kaita Gembu, Bukpe, Yangoji, Awawa, among others have become soft targets for kidnappers, with little or no resistance by the police, a situation that is taking a heavy toll on the farmers and agriculture generally.
Kwali area council, with about 188, 000 population as at 2022, is a home to indigenous inhabitants and settlers, who are mostly smallholder farmers. Though there are civil servants in the community, agriculture is highly practiced by private individuals as a source of livelihood.
Created on October 1, 1996, during the military administration of late General Sani Abacha, the people of Kwali are famous for pottery aside agriculture. It is the home of the world famous potter, Dr. Ladi Kwali whose image currently adorns the 20 Naira currency.
The area council hosts a number of strategic monuments including Federal Government College, National Mathematical Center Sheda Kwali, Sheda Science and technology complex, Nigeria Education Research and Development Center, National Fire Academy Sheda, among others.
Aside Kwali, other area councils such as Kuje, Gwagwalada, Bwari, Abuja Municipal Area Council and Abaji have been infiltrated by kidnappers and bandits that are wrecking havoc in the Federal Capital Territory.
Irrespective of insecurity, one of the farmer's, Mr Danlami Gwamna caught the attention of News Rider, as he defied all odds to work on his farm. As usual with every farmer working on a farmland, he was shabbily dressed.
The 65-year-old Gwamna and a father of four children feeds his family through the proceeds generated from his farm during the harvest season. In order to meet up with his family needs, he stores grains and resell them annually.
But Gwamna, who was an influential farmer in the 90's before the reign of kidnapping and banditry, wondered when security challenges will end in Nigeria.
He disclosed that some farmers adopted group farming for fear of being kidnapped by bandits, who often attack farmers on their farmland and whisk them away at gun point.
Gwamna described group farming as a process where farmers turn out en mass to cultivate on one person’s farmland.
He pleaded with the Federal Government to provide adequate security for farmers, as banditry, kidnapping and insurgency were the reasons that agriculture declined across the country especially in the North.
Another farmer in Yanbabu community, Mr Gideon Kwali said that he cultivated more than four hectares of land in the past but had to reduce it to two due to insecurity.
He lamented that he spends huge sums of money to hire youths that would accompany him to his farm and possibly fight back in case of any attack by the bandits.
This, they believed translated to high cost of food items in the markets and food insecurity in African countries that are battling with the marauders disguised as bandits.
Gwamna and Kwali's predicament are similar to over 700, 000 farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with a projected population of 3,067,500 million as at 2022. The FCT covers a land mass of 8,000 square kilometers, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Similar Incidents
News Rider reports that in 2022, the Federal Government ordered the closure of Federal Government College, Kwali, in Kwali Area Council following security breach on Sheda and Lambata villages.
Yewuti, the hometown of a former Vice Chairman of Kwali, Alhaji Zubairu Jibrin Yewuti, came under attack by kidnappers on April 22, 2023, when 29 villagers were abducted.
On November 18, bandits attacked Yewuti village. One person was killed while eight others were abducted, including the father of the former vice chairman of the council.
These series of attack forced some of the residents to relocate to neighbouring communities of Awawa, Yangoji and Kwali town.
In addition, a Chief Imam of Yangoji Central Mosque, Abdullahi Gbedako, and his sons, Aliyu Abubakar and Ibrahim Abubakar, were also kidnapped from their home in 2021. All the kidnapped victims have been released after payment of ransom in millions of naira to the abductors.
The kidnapping incidents have forced some farmers to abandon their farmlands, leading to low production of food is the FCT.
But the Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Mr Danladi Chiya pledged the council's support in the fight against insecurity in the FCT.
He facilitated the provision of essential farm inputs to the Kwali Farmers Association and donated a vehicle, aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture.
At a townhall meeting on security with the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders, the chairman said though insecurity is a global challenge, but without peace and security, attaining President Ahmed Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda would be difficult.
The Chairman, FCT Council of Chiefs, who is the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa promised the minister that the council support every efforts aimed at addressing insecurity in the FCT.
With the rage of banditry, many household have either lost their breadwinners, children or wives, resulting to increased orphans, widows and widowers in the continent.
AFAN Optimistic
All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) was created in 1987 as a non-governmental and non-profit organisation to represent the interest of Nigerian farmers.
Chairman of AFAN, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, Ifraimu Dauda promised to work with relevant stakeholders in the agricultural sector to address the most critical challenges faced by farmers in the FCT.
Dauda, who was inaugurated in December 2023, alongside other executives, also outlined his plans to boost food production and make agriculture the core foundation of Nigeria’s economy.
"I understand the challenges facing farmers all over Nigeria especially in the FCT, and I will love to work together with the stakeholders to proffer solution to these challenges facing farmers.
"We intend to partner with more organisations as well as maintain a good relationship with our loyal partners to enable AFAN give farmers stress-free experience by creating diverse opportunities to encourage the local farmers and also educate other aspiring farmers to be a part of agriculture as a way of not just making a living but to reduce unemployment and boost the economy," he said.
Dauda assured that AFAN would continously enlighten farmers on how to purchase farming equipment such as fertilizers, seedlings, pesticides and tools that would improve their livelihoods.
AFAN serves as a unifying force that brings Nigerian farmers together towards achieveing sustainable agricultural development.
FCT Restrategises
The Federal Capital Territory is currently facing intense security challenges ranging from kidnapping, banditry, One chance and robbery.
Nyesom Wike
Moved by the alarming crime rate, the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike revealed that his administration plans to use drones to enhance surveillance in the territory.
While receiving a delegation led by Honorary Consul General of Hungary, Endre Deri in his office, Wike noted that insecurity in the FCT has reduced drastically.
"Security has been an issue, but by the grace of God, we have been able to reduce the level of insecurity. You can attest to the fact that Abuja is safer now because of the way we have been able to tackle the issue," he added.
On agriculture, Wike said that the FCTA is open to collaborating with Hungry through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), saying that his administration is willing to provide the needed land.
"The issue of agriculture is very key. I know I have been to Budapest, and I know that Hungary is one of the countries that is also focused on agriculture.
"Let us also know what they (Hungary) intend to produce in order to address the issue of food insecurity in FCT," Wike said.
Insecurity has further worsened the dilemma of FCT residents despite the mounting cost of living, hike in the price of petroleum products, which translated to increased transport fare, skyrocketing house rent and exorbitant food items in the market.
Other Flash Points
Kwali, unlike states such as Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger have borne the brunt of these attacks by bandits, leading to a humanitarian crisis given the displacement of thousands of people, who are mostly farmers.
A farmer during planting season Zamfara is one of the states in the Northwest that is worst hit by conflict between farmers and herdsmen, which intensified and transformed into banditry. It is estimated that there are about 30,000 bandits spread across numerous groups in northwest Nigeria, with the groups' numbers ranging from 10 to over 1,000 fighters.
In April 2021, the former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle stated that bandits collected N970,000,000 million as ransom from victims’ families between 2011 and 2019. Regretably, bandits impose taxes on farmers to gain access to their farmland.
Farmers are mandated to pay between N100,000 to N300,000 to cultivate their land or harvest crops, another crisis that impede on their livelihoods. Failure to pay the taxes often resulted in killings, destruction of crops and constant attacks on villagers.
From 2015 to 2024, more than 13, 000 were killed and over 1,087,875 million displaced in 50 Zamfara communities including security agents. These deaths which were heavily attributed to banditry, reduced farming activities in the state.
In addition, hundreds of children and animals had died in the state through lead poisoning and flooding.
Nigeria’s border with Niger, which spans 1,497 km, is poorly manned by the Nigeria Custom and Immigration Services. The porosity of these borders escalated the infiltration of armed groups into Nigeria from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Kenya and Chad.
Kaduna is also among the states that are currently witnessing the reign of terror in form of banditry, kidnapping and constant killings. In Jibia and Batsari communities, bandits have reportedly set up checkpoints to extort money from farmers that are transporting their produce to markets.
In Unguwar Jibo and Nasarawa communities in Kachia Local Government Areas, bandits compelled farmers to raise N100,000 each as a condition to be allowed to cultivate their lands for giving information to troops about their movement and location.
Recently, the fight against banditry recorded a major boost when a notorious bandit commander, Kachalla Sharme was killed in Kaduna on Saturday, September 21, 2024. He was sent to hell during a fierce gun duel at Hambakko in the Rijana and Kaso Forests, which span Kachia and parts of Chikun and Kajuru Local Government Areas.
Two other bandits were also killed, while five others suffered life-threatening injuries in the clash, according to the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan.
The ill-treatment was also extended to farmers in Niger State, as bandits demanded payments during harvest. The forced payments also led to significant hike in the cost of agricultural products in the market, aside the fear of untimely death for refusing to comply with the bandits' directives.
Recall that in 2016, the bandits drew members from neighboring countries of Niger, Mali and Chad, mostly Tuaregs with links to Sahelian rebels.
More Facts
As at September 23, 2024, the United Nations pegged the current population of Africa at 1,523,042,789 billion, with a total land area of 29,648,481 Km2 (11,447,338 sq. miles). Out of this figure, 44.5 percent reside in urban areas, which is approximately 674, 871,188 million.
Interestingly, over 250 million smallholder farmers that dominate the African continent, provide food and livelihood opportunities to millions of Africans.
Female farmers working on a farmland This is because, agriculture employs more than half of Africa's workforce, and smallholder farmers constitute 60 percent of the population in low- income African countries, according to African Development Bank.
Nigeria has approximately 40.2 million agricultural households and the smallholder farmers are responsible for producing an estimated 90 percent of the country’s food. They grow a variety of crops such as yams, cassava, maize, beans, rice, and vegetables, and also raise livestock like goats, chickens, and cows.
While majority of the residents in rural areas engage in farming compare to urban areas, a greater percentage of persons in riverine States and communities raise income through fishing.
Nigerian farmers face significant challenges like poor infrastructure, inadequate access to credit, and climate change. This pitfalls posed barriers to their livelihoods and made it impossible to meet up with the financial needs of their families.
NBS Survey
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) advice the Federal, State and Local Government on all mattes related to statistical development.
The agency is responsible for developing and promoting the use of statistical standards and appropriate methodologies in the National Statistical System. NBS also develops and maintains a comprehensive socio-economic national data bank.
NBS Survey
News Rider reports that a survey conducted by the NBS indicated that there are about 40.2 million agricultural households in Nigeria.
Titled: "2022 National Agricultural Sample Census (NASC)", the report revealed how various agricultural practices are carried out by Nigerian households across the six geopolitical zones in the country.
NASC was designed to fill the existing data gap in the agricultural landscape in Nigeria. The report also contained a comprehensive enumeration of all agricultural activities in the country, including crop production, fisheries, forestry, and livestock activities.
It was conducted by the NBS in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, and Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. The report was launched on June 24, 2024, in Abuja.
According to the report, the NASC is expected to be carried out every five to 10 years in line with standards set by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for developing countries.
The report indicated that out of 40.2 million Agricultural Households in Nigeria, 91 percent practice crop cultivation, while 48 percent practice Livestock Farming.
While 42.5 percent practise poultry farming, 41.2 percent raise goats and 16 percent practise cattle farming. About 5 percent of Agricultural Households engage in Fishery activities.
The least percentage of agricultural households into crop cultivation was recorded in Lagos state with 48.0 percent, while Ebonyi had the highest with 99.5 percent.
This was even as the highest percentage of agricultural households engaged in livestock production was reported in Jigawa State with 84.2 percent; followed by Bauchi State with 79.7 percent.
On percentage distribution of agricultural households by types of poultry, the report indicated that about 98 percent of agricultural households raise chickens, 8.2 percent raise ducks nationwide and 8.0 percent raise Guinea fowls.
NBS Survey
While only about 5.4 percent of agricultural households raise Turkeys, 0.4 percent raise other poultry.
The highest percentage of agricultural households was recorded in Benue State with 65.2 percent; followed closely by Ebonyi State with 63.3 percent.
It was also revealed that the NASC listing survey was conducted using Digitised Enumeration Area (EA) maps in all the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said that data gathered from the census would provide evidence-based policy and decision making in all sectors of the economy, particularly in line with Renewed Hope Agenda in the agriculture sector.
Abdullahi assured that the NASC would assist the ministry with statistics to monitor agricultural food supply and identify opportunities for development in the sector.
Lending his voice, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen Abubakar Atiku Bagudu informed that the outcome of the census was a shining example of what could be achieved with robust collaboration among stakeholders.
The FAO representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dominque Koffy Kouacou hinted that the report would provide critical data for policymakers to make important decisions in planning, monitoring and evaluation of programmes as well as budget.
Statistician-General of the Federation / Chief Executive Officer of NBS, Prince Adeyemi Adenrian noted that with over 65 per cent of the population directly or indirectly dependent on the agriculture for their daily sustenance, the NASC results offer invaluable insights into the sector.
The NASC report highlighted that 40 enumeration areas were selected and canvassed in each Local Government Area, with a varying number of EAs covered by state.
Climate Change
The impact of climate change is taking its toll on every sector of Africa's economy especially the agricultural sector that is threatened by shortage of food supply.
While Africa accounts for 3.8 percent of greenhouse gas emissions globally, Nigeria contributes 0.57 percent to the global statistics on emissions. Unluckily, the continent is highly taunted by the negative effect of climate change.
Recall that in 2009, developed countries jointly agreed to mobilise $100 billion annually as Green Climate Finance (GCF) by 2020, to support developing countries in reducing emissions and adapting to climate change.
The GCF which is sourced from green bonds, debt swaps, confessional loans, grants and donations was designed to assist in reducing Greenhouse Gas (GhG) emissions by funding renewable power projects like wind shield or solar.
These loans for climate change mitigation and adaptation activities differ from traditional loans since it has longer repayment periods and lower interest rates.
However, every five years, each country is expected to submit an updated national climate action plan known as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that would highlight strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement.
The 198 countries including Nigeria that have ratified the Convention are called Parties to the Convention.
But most vulnerable countries especially in Africa are unable to access the GCF due to lengthy and complicated processes associated with the funds that could lead to debt trap.
Experts have disclosed that Africa is the most vulnerable continent on earth since climate change and climate variability reduces agricultural production, food security and water security.
The former Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar harped on the need for stakeholders to embrace nature-based solutions in addressing climate change issues, which is expected to bolster the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target especially on security, water, disaster risk reduction and livelihood improvement.
Publisher and Editor-in-chief of Development Agenda Magazine, Mr Paddy Ezeala informed that the frequency and intensity of extreme weather conditions associated with climate change led to involuntary migration and displacement.
Ezeala recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari had at an international forum during his tenure, promised to mobilise the youths to plant 25 million trees about five years ago, lamenting that till date, Nigerians have not seen the trees.
Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Environment, Hon. Terseer Ugbor enjoined stakeholders in the Environment Sector to adopt the green bonds strategy and other financing mechanisms before seeking for support from international donors.
Climate change manifests in form of heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, tropical cyclones, and prolonged droughts, with dire consequences on people's lives, communities economies and sustainable development in Africa.
Harmful Policies
Food systems encompass the entire agricultural value chain, ranging from food production, processing, transportation and consumption. Sadly, Africa's food system is threatened by harmful policies, over-fishing, flooding, storms, droughts and extreme weather conditions that are the fall-out of climate change.
Worried by the tales surrounding the food systems, farmers under the auspices of Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) raised concern over harmful agricultural policies that threatens biodiversity and degrades the soil.
The farmers' union revealed how AGRA is using its outsized power to exert undue influence on local, national and continental policymaking.
AFSA is Africa’s largest civil society movement, bringing together farmers, pastoralists, fishers, indigenous people, faith groups, women’s movements, youth and consumer associations in a united voice for food sovereignty on the continent. It currently operates in 50 African countries including Nigeria.
The non-profit organisation lamented that AGRA used strategic financial backing and embedding of consultants in government institutions to entrench industrial models detrimental to farmers.
News Rider reports that Africa’s food systems forum is the world’s premier forum for African agriculture and food systems that provides opportunities for stakeholders to share lessons that will move African food systems forward.
It was also designed to energise political will and advance the policies, programmes, and investments needed to achieve an inclusive and sustainable food systems transformation.
The President of the Republic of Rwanda, H.E. Paul Kagame, virtually joined the closing ceremony of the Africa’s Food Systems Forum summit held in Kigali, Rwanda from September 2 to 6, 2024.
According to him, "The production of food is the foundation of our economies, and indeed of life itself."
He appreciated the government of Rwanda for the partnership over the years, which successfully attracted over 5,000 participants during the AFSForum.
This year’s summit spotlighted the continental agenda on food systems, showcased innovative approaches, solutions, proven business models, best practices and latest technologies that could transform agriculture and food systems to ensure food and nutrition security in Africa, while creating jobs and opportunities for youth and women.
Shaky Green Revolution
The green revolution initiated during the 20th century led to the introduction of new varieties of wheat and rice, which gradually increased crop yields in Latin America and Asia. But due to the inherent political and ecological crisis in Africa, the programme remains shaky.
It was jointly established in 2006 by Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation under the platform of AGRA, widely proclaimed as a landmark frontline initiative for African agriculture.
The recent report by the African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) highlighted Zambia as a prime example of the disastrous outcomes of Green Revolution initiatives.
It was further revealed that the use of synthetic fertiliser and monoculture were the major reasons behind soil acidification, soil infertility and biodiversity loss, which increased vulnerability to climate shocks and pest attacks.
A Zambian farmer, who is the chairperson of Rural Women’s Assembly, Mary Sakala highlighted the devastating impacts of green revolution policies on farmers.
"We used to grow diverse crops. But now governments and agribusiness have pushed farmers into monoculture that depends on inputs. Their programmes have made us all vulnerable," Sakala said.
Zambia's plight reflected the disturbing pattern across the continent where up to 80 percent of Africa’s cultivated land is already degraded and may likely worsen with Farm Input Subsidy Programmes (FISPs).
Another farmer representing Zambian Governance Foundation, Sarah Haloba likened green revolution to colonisation that promotes capitalism in the environment and livelihoods.
"The Green Revolution is a mirage; it's colonisation in disguise promoting capitalism from the global North to continue controlling our food systems, environment, well-being and livelihoods," she added.
Gabriel Manyangadze of Southern African Faith Communities' Environment Institute (SAFCEI) lamented that the Green Revolution has not only failed to increase food security in Africa, but also inflicted deep ecological and social wounds.
Manyangadze hinted that faith leaders have a responsibility as custodians of the earth to call out the injustice.
Zambia’s food system is on the brink of collapse as about six million households are at risk of hunger after its maize production fell by 50 percent following a devastating drought.
Uncertainty On Agroecology Agenda
Irrespective of documented failures taunting the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) initiatives, the organisation has consistently compelled farmers to back down on agroecology.
This manifested in Vihiga County in Kenya, where an AGRA affiliate, the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) infiltrated the final stages of a two-year regional agroecology policy.
Agroecology is a scientific method of farming that incorporates ecological, social and economic factors into the production and consumption of food.
Founder of Bio Gardening Innovations (BIOGI), Ferdinand Wafula described AGRA as agent of industrial agriculture, meant to drive the agroecology agenda, adding that the organisation cannot be trusted.
"They (FOLU) have been absent in meetings, but suddenly, they are included in the policy texts now, along with terms such as ‘climate-smart’ and ‘agri-food systems.’ It is clear they are pulling strings behind the scenes," he said.
Agroecology was designed to achieve zero hunger, food security, nutrition and health, poverty alleviation, climate change resilience, biodiversity, youth engagement and gender self-determination.
Post-Malabo Process
African nations had in 2003 convened in Maputo, Mozambique and agreed on a Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Program (CAADP). The agreement was intended to bolster growth in the agricultural sector by six percent and to allocate 10 percent of Africa's national budget to the sector.
The CAAD failed to achieve the intended objectives, which led to the development of a ten-year strategic policy in Malabo.
However, AGRA’s involvement extends to the post-Malabo process, a key policy initiative led by African Union, aimed at shaping the next decade of agriculture. This included funding critical meetings like the Lusaka summit in July, 2024.
Coordinator for the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa, Million Belay lamented that Western entities are overshadowing the voices of African farmers.
Belay stated that AGRA’s fingerprints are all over African agriculture policy, and represents an attack on African farmer sovereignty.
"Throughout the meeting in Lusaka, the sway of these Western entities in driving the process was palpable, overshadowing the voices of African farmers, civil society and grassroots organisations," he added.
Though African leaders are working assiduously to deliver the CAADP framework, the four Biennial Review reports indicated that the continent remains largely off-track in achieving the Malabo declaration target by 2025.
Demand For Compensation
The devastation caused by the Green Revolution agenda in Zambia cannot be quantified. This is why African faith leaders are demanding for compensation from Gates Foundation for damaging the continent's food systems as well as its resultant effect on the green revolution programs.
Already, African Faith Leaders have issued an open letter to the Gates Foundation on the extent of damages caused by AGRA’s aggressive push for industrialised agriculture.
The letter, which was endorsed by over 157 civil society and farmer groups, indicated that Gates foundation and other funders should immediately cease funding AGRA.
Bishop Takalani Isaac Mufamadi, who endorsed the letter by the Southern African Faith Communities' Environment Institute (SAFCEI), noted that it is time for international funders to transition towards agroecology through respecting and supporting locally defined holistic approaches in Africa, by Africa.
He added: "AGRA and the Gates Foundation, as well as seed and agrochemical companies – they are false prophets of food security. They claim to be messiahs for the hungry but have failed to deliver. Their industrial approach degrades soils, destroys biodiversity, and places corporate profits over people. It is immoral. Gates and big agribusiness are playing God."
When asked how much compensation the faith leaders are requesting from Gates foundation, he said: "It takes long to restore damaged lands. Not only lands are affected but the economy. We need to do extensive research of the damaged land to come up with the cost."
Other requests by African faith leaders were that Gates foundation should provide reparations by resourcing agroecology initiatives and community-led efforts such as scaling up the organic input supply chain, participatory farmer-led research, and community seed banking.
Wobbly Agenda
AGRA recognised that developing smallholder agriculture into a productive, efficient, and sustainable system is essential to attaining food security, lifting millions out of poverty, and driving equitable growth across the continent.
It is an African-based organisation committed to transforming agriculture in Africa. With its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, the foundation priortised 11 countries in three agroecologies such as Ghana, Nigeria, Mali and Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.
Aside wobbly policies initiated by AGRA, banditry, farmers/herders clashes, shrinking of Lake Chad, insurgency and high cost of agricultural inputs are worsening massive efforts by farmers to provide sufficient food in Africa and Nigeria generally.
Lake Chad has shrunk to more than 80 percent of its original capacity due to climate change. This worsened the farmers/herders clashes as pastoralists that embraced open grazing hardly feed their livestock.
Though AGRA has invested over $1 billion dollars to support smallholder farmers in Africa, its initiatives have worsened the plight of farmers by increasing dependence on costly inputs, eroding local seed varieties, undermining soil fertility, and weakening farmers’ resilience to climate shocks such as drought, flooding and desertification.
Information obtained from AGRA's website indicated that African farmers need uniquely African solutions to environmental and agricultural challenges, to boost food production and gain access to rapidly growing agricultural markets.
With its mission to transform the lives of smallholder farmers, AGRA was founded on core mandate of contributing to a food system-inspired inclusive agricultural transformation across Africa, meant to reduce hunger, improve nutrition, and adapt to climate change.
Since 2006, the organisation has collaborated with governments, non-governmental organisations and private sector businesses to deliver a set of proven solutions to smallholder farmers and indigenous African agricultural enterprises.
"We put smallholder farmers first on the agenda, recognising that no country has moved from low income to middle income without agricultural transformation," the website revealed.
AGRA, which is sponsored by Gates Foundation, pushed further their Green Revolution agenda during the Africa’s Food Systems Forum summit.
Despite the intent of setting up AGRA, farmers are yelling that its agricultural policies are backfiring by degrading Africa’s soil and biodiversity.
Nigeria's Green Revolution
In Nigeria, the green revolution programme was inaugurated by Shehu Shagari in April 1980. Its fundamental objective was to increase the production of food and raw materials in order to guarantee food security.
With support from AGRA’s Hub for Agricultural Policy Action (HAPA), a team from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development embarked on a tour to Kenya from May 16 to 20, 2022.
The crux of the tour was for the team to study Kenya’s storage infrastructure, management models for public-private-partnership, institutional design, social safety nets, price stabilisation mechanisms, and appropriate Strategic Food Reserves (SFR) model.
Recall that the disruptions on food systems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russia-Ukraine crisis were some of the issues that triggered discuss on SFR in Africa.
The tour was also part of the ministry’s request for AGRA's technical assistance, as Nigeria sought to build its grain reserves and develop strategic food stocks for timely response in times of food security crisis.
Farmers at work
Findings by News Rider indicated that Nigeria's team was drawn from Food and Strategic Reserves Department and was led by the immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Enerst Umakhihe.
Umakhihe, who is a professional accountant and administrator served as the permanent secretary from 2021 to January 2, 2024.
After a meeting with AGRA's President, Dr. Agnes Kalibata on the first day of the tour, the team also visited Kenya's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operatives; National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), the Warehouse Receipt System Council (WRSC) and East African Grain Council (EAGC).
Umakhihe noted that maize and sorghum, which were the main crops under the strategic grains reserve in Nigeria, were challenged due to budgetary constraints and fluctuations in prices.
One of the team’s key interests in the tour was the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS), which Kenya has been operating for the last two years. Nigeria intends to establish a WRS as it reforms its SFR strategy.
A Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) enables farmers to deposit storable goods usually grains or coffee in exchange for a Warehouse Receipt (WR). A WR is a document issued by warehouse operators as evidence that specified commodities of stated quantity and quality were deposited at a particular location.
Although there is no institutionalised warehouse receipt system, as well as legal and regulatory framework in Nigeria but the Federal Government attempted to establish a WRS in 2013.
To ensure food sufficiency, stakeholders have advocated the need for more investment in WRS to reduce food waste and post-harvest loss in Nigeria.
Lending his voice, the Chairman of Young Farmers Association in Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, Onyeka Igbomoji raised the alarm over increasing cost of food commodities, raw materials and heightened economic hardship in Nigeria.
To this end, he enjoined the Federal and State Governments, civil society groups and philanthropists to join forces and strengthen Nigeria's agricultural revolution to avert food insecurity.
He said: "Everybody is crying out over the economic hardship in the country, and it seems to be getting out of control. People can no longer afford three square meals.
"The hike in fuel prices, transportation costs, school fees and lack of funds is making life unbearable and difficult for everybody across the country.
"There is the need for government at all levels to saturate the communities with food; it is when food is subsidised, by encouraging young farmers, who are ever ready to flood the market with food.
"If farmers are provided with basic tools and resources, it will automatically result to sales of food stuffs at affordable prices for people to buy according to their income."
He advised the Federal Government that providing palliatives is not a long-term solution to the hike in food and other commodities.
Igbomoji suggested that instead of palliatives, the government should empower Young Farmers Cooperatives to help lower the cost of food in the market at affordable prices.
With WRS, farmers can access financial support using the warehouse receipt as exchange for purchasing agricultural inputs.
Call To Action
Given the looming crisis in Africa's food systems, AFSA has sought for urgent resistance against the corporate-driven agricultural model that prioritises profit over people and the planet.
AFSA enjoined all stakeholders to ensure that policy decisions reflected Africa’s farmers’ needs, not the interests of multinational corporations, as the future of African agriculture must be guided by those who cultivate the land.
As African countries battle with insecurity, farmers and farmlands should be protected from insurgents and subversive forces that limit food production. Security agents should be deployed to farmlands to carryout routine patrol in order to forestall any attack from bandits and insurgents.
With the effect of climate change on agriculture, African governments should invest heavily on adaptation measures and discourage deforestation. The forest regulations should be implemented to end the indiscriminate felling of trees.
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