Nigeria’s huge potential to become an agricultural giant

Presently, China is the number one country in the world in agricultural production. They produce more than Nigeria and the United States combined. China is the Usain Bolt of the world’s agro race.

That’s huge! And it’s easy to actually point at their large population as the reason behind their agricultural advancement. Lest we forget, China is the world’s most populated nation boasting well over a billion citizens.

But if China’s head count was the sole reason why they are producing more than they can eat, then Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, should be feeding the rest of the continent right about now. 

Sadly, the reverse is the case.

Prior to the Nigerian Civil War, Nigeria was self-sufficient in milk and meat but misplaced priorities have seen its agro-runner fail to keep pace with her rapid population growth. It’s like Oscar Pristorius trying to outswim Michael Phelps at the Olympics.

The reality is that Africa’s largest economy bullies others with her seemingly endless oil reserve but imports frozen chicken parts from Benin Republic, Tomatoes from Chad, Fish from Senegal and Palm oil from Cameroon.

It cannot continue like this.

But are the potentials on ground for an agricultural revolution?

The answer is an emphatic ‘YES!’

There are three things required for an agricultural boost: one is, fertile grounds; the other is, willing farmers; and lastly, enabling environment.

By land mass Nigeria has the 32nd largest area in the world, majority of which is fertile to cultivate a wide variety of crops. If only ten per cent of Nigeria’s population become farmers, about 20 million people would be directly engaged.

The enabling environment would have to be provided by the government.

With less than 25% of her land in use, Nigeria is already the world’s biggest grower of cassava, a big player in the provision of cocoa beans, and some of the biggest yams you can find anywhere.  

From the North down to the South, there are enormous portions of land fertile for the cultivation of major crops like beans, sesame, cashew nuts, groundnuts and kolanut. Maize and melon are still popular. Palm oil and rubber are still traditional money makers.

Cocoa, groundnuts, rubber and palm oil were such big foreign exchange earners for the pre-oil era Nigerian farmer that the Cocoa House, the first skyscraper in Africa was built with proceeds from cocoa sale.

Even plantain and rice have gained prominence in recent years but with room for improvement.

It is not so surprising at all that there are such a wide variety of crops growing from the upland to the hinterland, rainfall is never too much neither is too few and in many areas there are rivers to support agriculture through irrigation.

With one of the world’s largest youth population, Nigeria has enough agile and able hands to power her to become the earth agro king. All it takes is a willingness and commitment to fulfilling that potential.