Agronomist harps on small-scale farming development
20 September 2018 |
3:05 am
A professor of Agricultural Economics, Dr Jude Nwaru, has recommended that efforts should be made to harness the potential of the smallholder farming to reduce poverty in Nigeria.
A professor of Agricultural Economics, Dr Jude Nwaru, has recommended that efforts should be made to harness the potential of the smallholder farming to reduce poverty in Nigeria.
He also recommended the curtailing of existing shortfalls in farm efficiency and productivity, saying it would enable the farmers to increase their outputs, incomes and profitability which would ultimately usher in poverty reduction and welfare.Nwaru made these recommendations while delivering the 37th inaugural lecture of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, entitled, ‘Small Is Beautiful: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread.’
He described smallholder farming as one done in less than 10 hectares of land and practiced by families using only or mostly family labour and deriving from their farm a large but variable share of their income in kind or in cash.
According to Nwaru, smallholder farming systems have become increasingly significant for global agricultural value chains.“In Nigeria, food production is in the hands of smallholder farmers that practice mixed cropping, and cultivate between one and two hectares of farm land. More than 80% of the farmers who also produce up to 98% of the food consumed in the country with the exception of wheat are smallholder farmers.”
The efforts to harness the potential of smallholder farming systems, as he suggested, “should include building effective and accountable institutions that will pursue a politically smart approach to economic development by seizing the vast opportunities in the local agribusiness environment and by stimulating investments in agriculture.”
Curtailing these existing shortfalls in farm productive efficiency and productivity, he added, is seriously required and calls for commitment and collaboration on the part of the government, the academia, researchers, development practitioners, farmers and other stakeholders.
His other recommendations included creating favorable and smallholder-inclusive macroeconomic framework; political will that would ensure that good agricultural policies translate to good practices; and policies that would create enabling environment for competitive input and output markets, which, he said, had become imperative.
Defining who a farmer is in the Nigerian context, he stated that “the diffused status of the farmer in Nigeria makes it possible for virtually everybody to be a farmer and nobody to be the farmer,” remarking that this scenario creates problems in times of policy formulation and programme implementation.
Related
Latest
1 day ago
President Bola Tinubu has appointed a new board to oversee the affairs of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Tinubu announced the appointment of seven Nigerian professionals on Friday in a statement by presidency spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale. The SEC board has Mairiga Aliyu Katuka as Chairman; Emomotimi Agama is Director-General while Frana Chukwuogor is Executive…
1 day ago
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has warned the public not to fall for a video suggesting it is auctioning vehicles. NCS on Friday refuted the video with scandalous narration announcing a purported auction of vehicles. Customs issued a statement on Friday to alert the general public on the video while warning them not to fall…
1 day ago
A man set himself on fire Friday outside the court where Donald Trump is standing trial in Manhattan, with officers rushing to extinguish the flames. Burning clothes were strewn in the park, which was locked down by authorities, while ambulances lined up nearby on standby, an AFP correspondent at the scene saw, describing a strong…
1 day ago
Leul Gebreselassie, the second Ethiopian man to win the men's title at the Okpekpe international 10km road race, will be gunning for his first major marathon win on Sunday at the London Marathon. The London Marathon is one of the six major marathons in the world. The rest are Boston, Berlin, New York, Tokyo, and Chicago…
1 day ago
The Delta State Police Command has urged Point-of-Sale (POS) operators to be cautious when handling large cash transactions, particularly those involving armed individuals. It noted that customers requesting large cash transactions should be accompanied by a video by the POS operator. Police spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, stated on Friday in a post on X, noting…
1 day ago
Lagos State government on Friday said it has apprehended 10 fake enforcement officials around the Cele/Itire axis of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway of the state. The apprehended persons; Ojo Oluwaseun, Rafiu Agbabiaka, Babatunde Ibrahim, Abiodun Olusegun, Daniel Olanrewaju, Aweda Kabiru, Olufowobi Michael, Olamilekan Olasupo, Bunmi James and Iyiola Shola(female) were caught carrying out unauthorised enforcement using…
1 day ago
Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to prove they have the mental strength to bounce back from a painful spell that wrecked their Champions League challenge and dented their Premier League title bid.
1 day ago
Pep Guardiola has revealed Erling Haaland could miss Manchester City's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.
×
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.