“Foreign exchange: Meals disaster probably as northern farmers go for export.”
Report, January 8, 2025.
The report coordinated by six reporters of the national paper went on to say this: “This projection is predicated on the choice by farmers within the northern a part of the nation to export their bumper harvest to neighbouring international locations in alternate for overseas forex whereas neglecting native calls for because the dry season approaches.”
First, a correction to the well-written report is required to set the document straight.
Clearly, not one of the reporters is a farmer or is conscious of the age-long sample of farming which invariably implies that massive portions of meals can be found throughout early harvest interval.
The availability reaches a peak at one level and is adopted by steep decline.
The massive provide now doesn’t point out a bumper harvest – solely an annual sample. Abumper harvest happens if farmers are reaping extra this 12 months than final 12 months or earlier years.
Sadly, that isn’t the case now. The aggregate meals manufacturing within the 2024/5 12 months is lower than the 2023/4 12 months general.
In any other case, the alarm raised by the reporters isn’t solely well timed and patriotic, it poses a definite hazard to southerners and the Governors should collectively successfully tackle – until they need their folks to starve greater than they’re doing now.
Out-Sourcing Southern Meals Provide.
“Terrorists kill 50 in Borno, Nasarawa.: The sub-head to that story mentioned “40 Borno victims embody farmers and fishermen, 10 in Nasarawa.”
The week earlier than the homicide of farmers in Kebbi, Katsina and Zamfara states was reported.
Hardly a day passes with out herdsmen killing folks in rural and sub-urban areas of Benue and Niger states. For the sake of those that may not be capable of draw the plain conclusion, allow me to assist them out.
The states which represent Nigeria’s meals baskets within the North at the moment are below direct assault by bandits and terrorists.
It requires no rocket science intelligence to understand that after terrorists abduct just a few farmers in any group, farming involves a halt within the space – nicely past the boundaries of the place besieged.
I travelled by means of Niger state in 2019 and took a protracted route from Izom to Agae, Lapai, Zungeru, Wushishi, Badeggi to Bida.
We handed by means of a group between Zungeru and Wushishi Native Authorities Headquarters which was a ghost group.
A buddy then dwelling in Wushishi, who instructed me that one horrible terrorist assault on one village, throughout which about 25 folks had been kidnapped end resulted in over 2000 farms being deserted and houses abandoned for greater than eight months.
The roads had been empty; and my buddy warned me by no means to strive that street once more.
In keeping with him, it was a miracle that my driver and I survived.
Multiply that situation by a number of thousand communities within the North, and you’ll start to belowstand to what extent Southerners have out-sourced our meals provide to a area which more and more will discover it tough to feed itself; to not speak of feeding others. In actuality, factor weren’t initially like this.
Earlier than the agricultural, particularly meals, revolution spearheaded by Alhaji Audu Bako, 1924-1980, the primary Governor of Kano State, below Common Gowon, who was succeeded by Sani Bello, most simple meals objects consumed within the North got here from the South.
Bako led the change which has turned the situation round; and the South is now nearly completely depending on the North.
Ordinarily, there would have been nothing alarming concerning the state of affairs.
The North has extra land mass; and the 2 major rivers defining Nigeria, in addition to the biggest lake (not less than till now) handed by means of the area. Most dams and irrigation programs must be, and had been, located there.
The financial precept of comparative advantage dictated that. Nevertheless, that was no cause for the just about complete abandonment of farming by Southerners.
It’s nearly not possible to discover a Southern youth registering for JAMB who selects agriculture as their first selection.
Within the even that they’re provided concessional admission for agriculture, one factor is definite. They don’t have any intention to be farmers. That could be a pity.
Why Southerners Should Embrace Agriculture.
“There are folks on the planet, so hungry, that God can not seem to them besides in type of bread.” Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948.
“Meals is nationwide safety, meals is financial system; it’s employment, power, historical past. Meals is every little thing.” Chef Jose Andres, founding father of World Central Kitchen.
A buddy of mine dwelling in Adamawa State near Chibok in Borno state and who travels incessantly alongside the axis lately instructed me about how huge areas of Borno State previously farmlands have develop into abandoned right this moment.
Farming has now develop into the shortest path to the graveyard in a number of Northern states. Clearly, if those that fed us prior to now, and are presently feeding us, can not even feed themselves, Southerners have three choices open to us.
The primary is to extend meals imports; the second is to progressively starve to dying in massive numbers; and the third is to roll up our sleeves and begin rising our personal meals – particularly in city and sub-urban areas.
The primary selection isn’t sustainable for lengthy betrigger overseas alternate is getting tougher to earn for Nigeria.
At any price, it is determined by the FG to permit imports. What occurred to the meals import levy promenadeised final 12 months ought to function a warning to us about reliance on politicians’ guarantees. And, we’ll solely switch dependence to foreigners; whereas, what we wish is self-reliance.
Ravenous to dying progressively is actually not another any severe chief would need on his folks. So, we would as nicely not even focus on it.
The third, and admittedly most tough, is to start out rising extra of our meals.
The tougher half is to persuade city and metropolis dwellers to simply accept the problem of feeding themselves.
Opposite to what most readers would assume, the hassle isn’t as tough because it appears; doesn’t actually require all people to be concerned (though the extra the merrier) and as soon as the outcomes begin rolling in, few would need to cease it.
The true treasures are perennials – meals objects which once they take root final for years – fruit timber, plantains and bananas, bitterleaf, and so forth. Plantains, bananas, bitterleaf, avocado and mangoes planted in my yard at Ibadan 30 years in the past nonetheless yield harvests with minimal care.
Southern Governors owe us an obligation to position meals safety on the prime of the Southern Agenda for his or her subsequent assembly.
I’m conscious that Governors Sanwo-Olu and Soludo are taking steps on this route. Nevertheless, with all due respects, what I’ve learn concerning the two initiatives has not gone far sufficient; and none of them supplies a framework for measuring progress.
It’s an axiom of administration science that what you can not measure you can not management. What the governments do now doesn’t enable for measurement and management. That’s primary to the hassle. We will be taught from India which was meals poor at independence in 1948 and is now the world’s leading meals exporter. About 18 per cent of the meals in that nation is produced in city areas – together with terraces of skyscrapers, balconies of condominium buildings and places of work.
Cease Press.
“Once more Boko Haram sacks Chibok community,,,,,” Report January 15, 2025.
Comply with me on Fb @ J Israel Biola.
