Stakeholders seek ways to meet local wheat demand

Millers Are Discouraging Farmers — Kuyoro

The impact of the Russia/Ukraine War has continued to expose Nigeria’s wheat production deficiency, as manufacturers and other users of the produce are struggling to get steady supply.
 
The untoward development is taking its toll on Nigerians as price of bread; cakes and other pastries have increased astronomically. In the last one year, the price of bread has been reviewed at least three times, due to what bakers called hike in price of wheat flour. 
 
The main reason attributed to this challenge, is the country’s reliance on importation of wheat, since it’s production far outstrips its demand. 
 
According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Affairs Service, Nigeria produces about five per cent of its need, with production hovering around 60,000 metric tonnes, while demand stands at between 4.5 and 5.0 million tonnes yearly. 
 
But some industry players, researchers and other stakeholders believe that the country doesn’t have any business importing or relying solely on other countries for its wheat supply, as it has what it takes to be self-sufficient in wheat production. 

Investigations showed that wheat production has been plagued with series of challenges over the years, a development that has continued to affect its fortune as more farmers are abandoning the crop for other money-spinning farm produce.

One of the challenges identified, as a major stumbling block to the growth of the wheat farming is inadequate supply of high yielding seed varieties.

The National President of Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Musa Shehu, who confirmed this in an interview said: “In the Nigerian setting, research institutes that breed seeds only do so on demand; therefore, very few seeds are in the hands of farmers. The certified seeds that we have are insufficient to meet the needs of all farmers in Nigeria that are involved in wheat cultivation.

“The Ukraine and Russia conflict is an indication that we have to do something to boost seed development, which will help us to develop our wheat production to meet our local and national demands. So, one of the problems that we’re facing is that certified seeds are not enough. I know a research institute and other agencies that are doing their best now to ensure availability of seeds.”

Another major challenge is insecurity. The Guardian learnt that activities of insurgents, kidnappers and unrest in most wheat producing states have reduced the number of farmers, which hitherto affected output.

Other challenges, according to stakeholders, include lack of essential inputs, irrigation system, access to loans and rejection by flour millers, among others.

A wheat farmer, Mr. Olatokunbo Kuyoro blamed flour millers for the retarded growth of the industry. He said since millers are benefitting from importation due to the level of corruption attached to it, they have succeeded in killing the morale of wheat farmers.

“I happened to grow wheat during the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida era when the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was in place. The programme categorically stated that whatever we can produce, there’s no point importing them. I remember planting wheat in Kano State then and it was successful.

“But as at that time, manufacturers of wheat flour claimed that Nigeria’s wheat was classified as soft wheat because there are two types of wheat – soft and hard wheat. The point to justify their continuous importation was that the soft wheat is only good for biscuits and not bread. In other words, the hard wheat being imported was adjudged better.

“I said then, look we can do research – genetically breeding, whereby at the end of the day you can cross the soft wheat with the hard one and over a long period, you’ll get the desired one, but because they are benefitting from the continuous wheat importation, they tried as much as possible to discourage Nigerians farmers from growing wheat.”

Kuyoro noted that wheat is one of the easiest crops to cultivate, which he compared to cultivation of vegetable. “When you grow wheat, you don’t need to apply herbicides. So, the cost of production is very low. There is a lot of corruption in the importation that the people that are involved are benefiting.

“The Federal Government should look inwards and see what can be done to improve wheat production in Nigeria.”

On his part, the President of Wheat Farmers Association, Kano Chapter, Alhaji Musa Sheka, who identified some lingering challenges to include inadequate farming inputs, training and retraining of wheat farmers among others, called for urgent solutions to the problems.
He appealed to government to intervene in the programmes of wheat farmers, saying what is currently taking place in Ukraine should serve as a lesson to Nigeria and spur her to produce enough wheat.

To encourage farmers and new entrants, the National President, Shehu said that the body is already engaging flourmill association, adding that they have promised that no matter how much farmers produce, they would buy them off at a competitive price. “We have a standard MoU on that which is an assurance that no matter the quantity produced, they would be bought by the millers.”