‘Agric can’t work without adequate government input’
Senator Emmanuel Bwacha is the Chairman Senate Committee ittee on Agriculture. He represents Taraba South Senatorial District strict in the Senate. In an interview with he urged d government to make adequate provision for agriculture e in the national bud
Since you became the Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture about seven years ago, what difference has been made in the agricultural sector of the economy?
Well, interestingly we came on board at the same time with the present Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and when my committee was inaugurated, we conducted an opinion poll and discovered that most of the agricultural research institutes were not given the desired attention. We then made it a priority to increase their funding. Initially, we had a few bottlenecks but we were able to achieve that. It was not much of course, you know funding agriculture in Nigeria is a Herculean task, because what is needed to boost the sector is not just peanut. But what I am trying to say is that we were able to effect a change on what was on ground. At least, we brought it to the fore that we needed to increase their funding pattern as against what obtained in the past.
So, having created that awareness, we saw in us and the Ministry of Agriculture a partnership process to increase awareness on the need to give agriculture attention. In essence, it’s a sector readily available to complement the role the oil sector is playing or rather to create an alternative revenue base to the mono-economy we have now in the country. The minister actually came out with the proposals on most of the transformation going on now. When we saw them, we studied them. For some of them, we had to go into personal investigation among farmers across the country, farmer’s organizations and all that. And we discovered some of them were actually very noble reforms. Although so much has been said about the transformation as it affects agriculture, one of the biggest advantages as we speak now is easing out middlemen from the transactions of agricultural inputs like fertilizers and a couple of other items like seeds and all that. So, we can say clearly that there is a remarkable progress. And there is also, to a large extent, an employment generation, although yet to meet the desired target.
With all the policies and programmes in the Agricultural Transformation Agenda and government’s proclamations of their efficacy, many people are still saying that they are not benefitting, and you are representing the people including the farmers, what do you have to say?
Well, I am not only representing people and farmers. In fact, my senatorial district is largely a farming constituency and the place I come from is an agrarian community. I was born there, I didn’t know anything but farming. I grew up farming and have been into farming. Actually, farming is my primary constituency. The truth about it is that Nigerians must learn how to imbibe patience. When the e-wallet component of the Agric Transformation Agenda was introduced, most of us were very skeptical. We thought it wasn’t going to work, and we started asking questions. But as I speak with you, it appears to be a very popular policy. It is working and people are hailing it including even the opposition. You know, in Nigeria, we introduce politics to everything. We cannot say we have attained perfection, because it’s an exercise on trial. Yes, in the trying process, we have seen success. But if you are into large scale farming, you have to negotiate directly with manufacturers. So, we cannot say the farmers are saying there is no result. No, we are urging the farmers to be patient, let us give the government a chance and see to the end of the transformation agenda.
You said we have not gotten there yet in agriculture. Apart from the political continuity you are advocating, what do you think the government and other stakeholders can do to get us there?
Yes, first and foremost, I quite agree with a number of analysts that agriculture is business. But it’s a business that cannot be done without government input. And that’s why the emphasis on funding has become germane. I have insisted on increased funding while others say budget alone will not sustain agric. That’s not what we are saying. We need sufficient funding in budget so that all the agencies involved in regulating the practice of agric will be comfortable to partner with the private sector. So, a lot of issues are involved. You know, if the funding is increased, it makes it even easier to make agric look like a business just as we are advocating. The fact that we want it to be business does not mean that government will just fold its arms. Even in the United States, the Secretary of Agriculture plays a key role. If you see agric budget in the United States you will be amazed. I think we should replicate a thing like that and then get off these troubles. Most of the troubles are generated by the oil revenue. You can be rest assured that all the noise about I want to control power is just getting to control how you can share oil revenue, nothing more. But if we had made agriculture worthwhile, we would have reduced this case about trying to own oil wells, trying to be involved in enjoying oil subsidy and things like that.
Finally, what message do you have for Nigerians including your farming constituency?
Honestly, my message for Nigerians and my farming constituency is to work towards diversifying Nigerian economy and making agriculture key before tourism, entertainment and others. Agriculture is supposed to occupy the front seat even before oil. So, if Nigerians will sleep and wake up with this consciousness, it will be better. And I think I should call on the private sector and organized agric groups like the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) to play critical role. They should be seen working, should be seen talking too, should be seen putting government on its toes that there are things that should be done. Eventually, we will be able to understand the significance of the sector.