■ The FAO sponsored fertilizer Trail.

….@ WUFAS AGRONET, We don’t know more than Food. (Earner “FAO TOP FAN” Badge )

PROGRAMMES AND SCHEMES

1. The Four Year National Development Plan, 1970–1974
2. The Commodity Board, 1970–77.
3. The FAO-sponsored Fertilizer Trail.
4. The National Accelerated Food Production Programme (NAFPP).
5. The Operation Feed The Nation. ( OFN ) 1976
6. Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund-March 1977
7. The Green Revolution Programme, 1980
8. The River Basin Development Authority ( RBDA). 1976 by Dee, 25.
9. The Integrated Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) began in 1987.
10. The Directorate of Food, Road and Rural Infrastructures ( DFRRI )1986
11. AGRICULTURAL POLICY FOR NIGERIA-February 1988
12. Agricultural Insurance Scheme-December 1988
13. Fertilizer Procurement and Distribution
14. NIRSAL 2015– To date

The Four Year National Development plan, 1970 -74 provided the framework for subsequent Schemes and Programmes giving lead and directions in agricultural development.
Nigeria is predominantly an agrarian country . It was estimated that about 80% of the total working population in Nigeria were engaged in the production of cocoa, oil palm products, groundnut,cotton, timber, food crops, rubber, fishing, and animal husbandry. Before the oil boom, no less than 60% of the country’s exports were derived from agriculture. Farming also provided at least 50% of the total products. Farming in Nigeria could be divided conveniently into small peasant and estate farming. While the peasant farmers were involved in food crops such as yams, cassava, guinea corn, millet, maize , rice , beans, etc for family consumption, the inland market and sometimes for export. . Estate farming is devoted to the cultivation of cash crops like cocoa, rubber, coffee, tea, timber, sugar, tobacco, etc.

Over the years, the decline in agricultural activities and subsequent increase in import bills had necessitated various schemes or programmes launched to tackle the growing problems of inadequate Food production. Livestock , fisheries resources . Notable of these programmes were :

● Special Scheme e.g., establishment of food companies in at least 3 states —the Mid-Western, Kwara and East-Central States .

● Seed Schemes — The provision of improved seeds and seedling multiplication schemes in most states.

● Irrigation schemes especially in the Northern states of the country. These were in the areas of potentially suitable but uncultivated land in the basins of major rivers and in the upper catchment of their tributaries.

● Mechanized Farming – Was primarily in government owned farms while government arranged for private farms with hiring units for tractors , equipment and service workshop in most states.

● Livestock Projects — Livestock, poultry and fishery development were vigorously pursued in most of the states. Early efforts in dairy development were yielding encouraging results in Benue – plateau, North- Central ,Lagos etc. back then, the Agege farm in Lagos produced milk in commercial quantity that compared favorably with imported brands. A 140- dairy cow unit produced about 142,218 liters of milk per annum.

● Fishing Industry –

■ AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL.
In 1971, the Federal Government established the Agric Research Council of Nigeria. To provide an effective machinery for a central co- ordination of Agric Research in Nigeria. The decree that established it stipulated that it’s to advise on National Science Policy and Financial requirements for the implementation of such policy in respect of Research and training in the agricultural science and to promote the national economy by application of the results of such research and training.

THE RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS

● Cocoa Research Institute — Established in Ibadan to take over the research projects formerly conducted by the West African Cocoa Research Institute based in Tafo (Ghana) . Nigeria at the time of the establishment of the institution was the world’s second largest producer. In addition to Cocoa the institute also conducted research into kola nuts, Cashew and Coffee improvement producing high yielding Cocoa hybrids and improved kola.

●Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research. — Primarily to raise the quality and quantity of oil palm fruit yields . It also encouraged farmers on better processing methods.

● Federal Department of Agricultural Research. — Established in 1899 but reconstituted in 1954 to raise the productivity of Nigeria’s staple food crops such as Yam, Cassava, Sweet potatoes, maize, rice, legumes and citrus fruits. Headquartered in Ibadan with satellite substations across Nigeria.

● Federal Department of Forest Research. – Established in 1954 conducts Research to support timber production and utilisation in the country . Stationed at Ibadan with sub stations at Zaria, Kano Umuahia and Sapoba (Benin).Field stations are strategically located within the main forest areas.

● Nigeria Store Products Research Institute.— Based in Lagos with substations in Ibadan, kano, Portharcourt. To study the problem of Nigerian food crops and export produce and devices ways to curb looses due to bad storage and insects infestation.

● Federal Fisheries Department.— centres around fish resources of Nigeria’s efficient exploitation , utilisation and the training of fisher men in modern fishing methods and equipment. as well as fish production in Lake Chad , brackish (salty) and fresh water potentials.

● Federal Department of Veterinary Research. — Into animal production and protection against bacteria, viral as well as parasitic diseases of poultry and other Livestock.

● Nigeria Institute of trypanosomiasis Research — For prevention of tsetse borne disease, sleeping sickness etc.

■ The FOOD and AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION” ( FAO) sponsored fertilizer trails. The critics of this programme claimed that the recommended brands of fertilizer might not be appropriate in all instances for a large size country as Nigeria (98.6)million Hectares with distinctive and different ecological zones and soil regimes and profiles this argument gave rise to local production of fertilizer needed in the country in relation to Salinity and alkalinity of soil from very low to moderately prognostic parameters of saline and alkaline and the electro conductivity , pH, exchangeable Cat-ion and An – ion .

■ NATIONAL ACCELERATED FOOD PRODUCTION PROGRAMME.
This programme laid a solid foundation for extention and Research Cooperation in food crop production enhancing farmers to select and adopt new and high yielding varieties of seed and crops leading to improved practices.

■ OPERATION FEED THE NATION PROGRAMME. Launched on May 21st 1976 ( OFN ).
This programme was to mobilise the nation towards self sufficiency , self reliance in food and to encourage pride in agriculture for participation of all the populace also to generate awareness of the importance of agriculture in National development with the mobilisation of both rural and urban dwellers to participate in agriculture of conventional crop farming, fish farm , backyard and gardens or poultry .
The programme created the necessary consciousness and attitudes towards food production.

■ AGRICULTURAL CREDIT GUARANTEE SCHEME FUND
A decree establishing an agricultural credit guarantee scheme fund came into force in March 1977 . With the sum of 100million Naira allocated to fund purpose of providing guarantee for loans granted for agrc purposes by any bank with the provisions of the decree.

■ GREEN REVOLUTION PROGRAMME 1980 –
The programme innovated strategies ( Food mission )which estimated the level of food production needed to achieve self sufficiency such as the expansion of the integrated Agricultural Development Programme (ADP ) to cover all states of the federation and created support for artisanal fisheries , agriculture and establishment of grains storage reserve facilities among others.

■ The Integrated Agricultural Development Programme ( ADP ) — In 1986/87 the unit directed it’s efforts in strengthening the extension system based on the training and inspection of extension services and workers , significant improvement were recorded one year after the innoguration the outfit increased rural infrastructural development in road construction , farm settler centres , small earth dams , boreholes , fish ponds etc.

● Fertiliser Procurement and Distribution. — In 1988 about 377500mt of fertiliser was imported. In addition NAFCON supplied 315000 tons of Compound fertiliser while FSFC kaduna made available 20000tons . About 1mmt of various fertilizer were made available to farmers in 1988. Subsidy on fertiliser still subsist.

■ THE RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SCHEME. ( RBDA ) .
Harnessing the abundant water resources of this great Nation for agricultural production and other uses

■ THE COMMODITY BOARDS.
Commodity marketing system consisting of a price fixing authority and seven commodity boards operating on nation – wide basis irrespective of state boundaries was created . The commodity boards were to encourage the production and to organise the marketing of major agricultural commodities for local production and processing, thereby providing maximum benefits to farmers and home demand. The boards were also responsible for the processing of raw materials before export
Although each of the boards provided guaranteed minimum prices at which farmers sell to them . Farmers and plantation owners are free to sell direct to local processors or to consumers. The seven boards were :
• Cocoa Board — Responsible for Cocoa, Coffee, and tea.
• Groundnut Board — Responsible for Groundnuts, Soya beans, Beniseed, Shea nut, and Ginger.
• Cotton Board — Responsible for Cotton, Kenaf , and similar fibre.
• Palm Produce Board — Responsible for Palm kernel, Palm oil and Copra.
• Rubber Board — Responsible for rubber.
• Grains Board — For all Food grains.
• Root Crops Board — For tubers and root crops..
However, the activities of various marketing boards ceased from March 1977.
■ The DIRECTORATE of FOOD , ROADS AND RURAL INFRASTRUCTURES ( DFRRI ).1986 – Mandated to fix rural roads network etc

■ AGRICULTURAL POLICY FOR NIGERIA – February 1988.
The ultimate aim is to documented plan that will guide the nation’s agric development plan for the next 15years 1988 – 2004. Under the plan STRATEGIC GRAIN RESERVE PROGRAMME, BUFFER STOCK and Farm storage for on-farm storage

■ AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE SCHEME — The Ministry of Agriculture in Collaboration with National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria ( NICON ) Provided necessary covers to farmers against natural disaster, at the launching 41.5millionNaira was raised. The government decided to bear 50% while the farmers would bear the remaining 50%. It was then mandatory for all farmers who obtain credit facilities from any bank to take an insurance policy.

■ NIRSAL — NIG. INCENTIVES BASED RISK SHARING SYSTEM FOR LENDING. -‘ Focus commodity value chains known as 5- 4 -3 -3 -1 commodities.

1 – Aqua cultures and integrated Livestock commodities.
The above are under the agreement with mapping to market (M2M ) strategy. With a commercial bank leveraging NIRSAL Credit Risk Guarantee making it easier for lenders to Agric business.

2- Controlled environment Agricultural commodities — Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.(FFV)

3- Consumer commodities — Rice, Beans, Sweet potatoes etc.

4- Export commodities – Hibiscus, Sesame, Ginger and Shea butter’s

5 Industrial commodities – Maize, Soya beans, wheat , Cassava and cotton.

The various Schemes and Programmes had their various successes and failures.
At WUFAS AGRONET, We are Competent and Reliable Food Technologists . Into Human Capital Development Consultancy Empowering through Demonstrative Seminars in “Ethics” of Food Processing Technology , training the teeming youthful population, unemployed and underemployed graduates in Postharvest handling (Processing ) . Our Contact 08034064270, 08157784430. www.wufasagronet.com , email: wufasagronet@gmail.com