By Odafe Agbude:
In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed a transformative shift in its agricultural practices, embracing mechanised farming as a means to boost productivity, improve food security, and stimulate economic growth. Gone are the days of labour-intensive methods that hindered agricultural progress. Today, mechanisation has emerged as a game-changer, revolutionising the agrarian landscape in Nigeria. This blog post explores the rise of mechanised farming in Nigeria and its impact on the nation's agricultural sector.
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TRADITIONAL FARMING:

Going back to the past years, traditional farming in Nigeria has been with crude implements like cutlasses, hoes, shoves, etc. These were inefficient, time-consuming, and yielded low productivity, especially with the country's growing population. There is a growing need to increase the production rate of agricultural products, and this is where mechanised farming comes to play.

The Need for mechanised farming in Nigeria:

With its vast arable land and growing population, Nigeria faces significant challenges in meeting the increasing demand for food. The Nigerian government recognised the need to embrace mechanised farming to overcome these obstacles and address food security concerns. The government has also urged and called for more private-sector investment in the agricultural sector. The potential benefits of mechanised farming in Nigeria include but are not limited to the following:
1. Food security: Mechanised farming in Nigeria will bring about food security through the increase and expansion in production rate as it will now be possible to cultivate more lands quickly.
2. Increased GDP: An increase in production rate will lead to an increase in the agricultural sector's contribution to the nation's gross domestic product.
3. Foreign exchange: Once food security has been achieved, the nation can sell to the international market, which will bring about foreign exchange.

The Rise of Mechanised farming in Nigeria:

Mechanised farming in Nigeria has been on the rise, though slowly, as the level of Nigeria's agricultural mechanisation is among the lowest globally. This is according to the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy 2022-2027, published on the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development website.

There has been a low adaptation by the farmers to this new modern equipment due to unaffordability, illiteracy, and scarcity of tractors; thus, causing a great reduction in the overall growth rate.

There are, however, some individual successes in the rise of mechanised farming in Nigeria. There have been successful examples and case studies in Nigeria, like the Olam Mechanised farms and Dangote sugarcane farms, to mention a few.

Government Initiatives and Support:
To encourage the adoption of mechanisation, the Nigerian government implemented several initiatives and policies to provide farmers with access to modern machinery and equipment. This included subsidising the cost of machinery, promoting research and development in agricultural technology and establishing training programs to educate farmers on the benefits of mechanised farming.

Modern Machinery and Equipment:

Mechanized farming relies on the use of advanced agricultural machinery and equipment. Nigerian farmers can access a wide range of tools that streamline various farming processes, from tractors and combine harvesters to irrigation systems and precision farming technologies. These machines have significantly reduced manual labour, increased operational efficiency and improved overall productivity.

Enhancing Productivity and Yield:

Mechanised farming techniques have played a crucial role in increasing agricultural productivity in Nigeria. With the ability to plough larger land areas in a shorter time, farmers can cultivate more crops and achieve higher yields. Furthermore, mechanisation has enabled timely planting, improved crop care and efficient harvesting, resulting in better crop quality and reduced post-harvest losses.

Empowering Smallholder Farmers:

While mechanised farming initially gained traction among large-scale commercial farmers, efforts have also been made to extend its benefits to smallholder farmers. Government-backed initiatives and partnerships with private organisations have allowed small-scale farmers to access affordable machinery and receive training on how to use them effectively. This empowerment has transformed smallholder farming, allowing farmers to scale up their operations, increase income, and contribute to the nation's agricultural growth.

Challenges Mechanised Farming:

While the rise of mechanised farming in Nigeria presents numerous opportunities, it also comes with challenges:
1. The high cost of machinery: This is a serious challenge, especially for smallholder farmers who may need help to afford to pay for such needed services and instead go for manual labour.
2. Limited access to credit: There is limited access to credit loans as many of these farmers need the required collateral for such loans. There is also the risk factor which many of these farmers would rather avoid taking for their businesses.
3. Inadequate infrastructure: Farmers have suffered greatly at the hands of inadequate or poor infrastructure. The lack of storage facilities and equipment has greatly affected product yield and longevity after harvest. Poor road networks have also contributed to the problems faced by farmers as the products will have to suffer on the roads before getting to the market for sale.
4. The need for skilled operators: This is another hurdle that needs to be addressed. Skilled operators are needed to man these new machines; they need to be trained and retrained so as to keep them abreast of new technologies that are coming into the agricultural sector.

OPPORTUNITIES:

With the right investments, policy support, and training programs, these challenges can be overcome, unlocking the full potential of mechanized farming in Nigeria.

Through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development(FMARD), the government, in conjunction with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), have increased the opportunities for agricultural sector investment and financing. Such programs include:

The LIFE program (Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises):
This program aims to improve the livelihood and living standards of Youths and Women in rural and suburban communities. The program further ensures the promotion of community-based on-farm and off-farm business activities along with key agricultural value chains as a means of job and wealth creation among the denizens of these communities.

Youth Employment in Agriculture Program (YEAP):
Developed by the ministry, this program aims to provide as many job opportunities as possible for youths in the agricultural or agro-business space. This program is specifically targeted at youths to create about 750,000 jobs for youths willing to get into the agro-business space.

Agri-business/small and medium enterprise investment scheme (AGSMEIS):
The goal of this scheme is to boost the country's economy in the long run and create more job opportunities for people. They intend to execute their goals by supporting and promoting agricultural businesses, especially SMEs in the agricultural sphere. Youths in the agricultural field can benefit from this scheme and turn their agricultural business into one of the top businesses in the world.

POWER AGRO:
This scheme is part of the N-Power scheme, but it caters to the agricultural aspect of the country. It is targeted towards providing education on agricultural subjects and roles to beneficiaries. For instance, it distributes knowledge to people on how to develop farms and be great agricultural business owners that make the right choices for their agricultural business. Some of the courses that interested participants would be trained in include:
1. Agro-entrepreneurship
2. Agriculture Extension Services
3. Farm managers
4. Consultant
5. Farming co-operatives management
6. Seed fertilizer and other input aggregators
7. Public sector jobs in agriculture.

Agricultural Credit Support Scheme (ACSS):
This scheme is targeted at funding farmers to enable them to explore all the possibilities and potentials that the agricultural industry could attain.

Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS):
Established by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources (FMA&WR), this scheme is targeted at funding agricultural activities like production, processing, storage and marketing of agricultural products.

In conclusion, mechanised farming has ushered in a new era in Nigerian agriculture, revolutionising the sector and paving the way for increased productivity, improved food security, and economic growth. The government's initiatives and the adoption of modern machinery have empowered farmers, particularly smallholders, and transformed their livelihoods. While challenges persist, the future of mechanised farming in Nigeria looks promising, with the potential to reshape the nation's agricultural landscape for years to come.



This article is written by Odafe Agbude, a student of the faculty of Law, Delta State University.

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