Thread by @BashorunGa_

9JA FARMERS & 21ST CENTURY CHALLENGES.
As a poultry farmer and an Agro-allied consultant, I will be discussing the various challenges faced by Nigerian farmers in this 21st century/post-corvid-19 and possibly some solutions
#Thread
@NanonoSabo @FmardNg @jeffphilips1 @fimiletoks

Nigeria farmers are faced with various challenges from feeding an expanding national population to meeting rising demands which involves rearing of quality meats, production of quality cash and arable crops for both industrial and human consumption.
@iyaboawokoya @bengbenro

We wake up everyday hoping for a bumper harvest whereas nothing is done to address the age long major challenges ranging from;
1.Lack of modern mechanization
2.Poor infrastructure
3. Zero financing
4. Poor research and record keeping
5. Lack of information.
@borie_nla
@sarnchos

Before I explain further the above major challenges, let us go way back in history.
In 1959, Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was the then Premier of the the South Western state with his Commisoner of Agric Chief Akim Diko(am not sure of the name) went to Isreal to understudy the MOSHAV

This sojourn berthed the establishment of 20 farm settlements in the SW region which includes Oyo, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos. The idea is to empower individual families to farm their own plots under the supervision of a strong multipurpose cooperative.
@raufaregbesola @GboyegaOyetola

These settlement schemes were also aimed at attracting educated young minds into viable farming units as an alternative to urban living/migration.
It is also to demonstrate that farming could be satisfying and lucrative and to raise agric productivity to meet growing population

These scheme was so successful that the SW region sustained her economy on agriculture, such is the various landmark infrastructures built from agricultural proceeds. From Cocoa House in Ibadan to Obafemi Awolowo University and many more.
@SalmanDuke @MrAfobaje @woye1

Several research institutes were inaugurated to support the development of the sector.
Unfortunately, the Agriculture sector was neglected when we discovered crude oil by our leaders forgetting that a nation that failed to farm will starve.

In United States of America,only about 2%(2.1 million) of the country's population are farmers yet America contributes about 136 billion dollars their nation's GDP.
I believe our Agricultural sector in Nigeria has the potential to generate more if we tackle challenges heads on.

We need to improve and modernize our agricultural sector, precision farming is the new thing. We need a modern scheme that will grant every farmer to modern equipments.
Tractors need to be available at cheaper rate to farmers,banks must also give farmers loans while Govt subsidze

Irrigation equipments should be made available to farmers at cheaper rates.
Just recently, the SW farmers are going through hell as a result of poor rain distribution.
Manh hectrage has been lost to this ecological crisis. We depend too much on rain-fed farming which is wrong.

With modernization and mechanization,farmers can farm all year round with less drudgery with great and better yield
@TractorMahindra @AGCOcorp
@JohnDeere are all private investors the @FmardNg should be attracting to setup factory in Nigeria because of the massive biz opportunity

Lack of infrastructure is another problem facing Nigeria farmers, when u take a visit to our various farm settlement, what you witness is a dilapidated structures. The road network to our food source is not accessible. No light, no water.
@seyiamakinde @RotimiAkeredolu

Settlements are becoming ghost towns as a result of poor infrastructures,farmers should be treated like a king,we must have access to adequate medical coverage and good education for our children. Our security should also be paramount for continued growth.
@kfayemi @jidesanwoolu

Our research institutes are in shambles.
Apart from IITA, which is not owned by Nigeria government,other institutes such as CRIN, NIFOR, NSPRI, IAR&T, NVRI, FRIN, NIFF, NIHORT and many more are in a state of pity.
Without record, research and date, precision farming is impossible

Information is also key to Agricultural development, we are living in an era where @nimetnigeria can't even give us accurate rain distribution/forecast. As a result farmers in the south west are suffering right now.
Farmers don't have access to new farming techniques and prctices

Our extension services is in coma. Farmers are still farming the old ways because we lack information channels.
Its unfortunate we don't have a TV channel dedicated to farmers in Nigeria. @NTANewsNow

Nigeria banks and the @cenbank has also failed farmers in the past. Farmers can't access single digit loans from commercial banks. Financing Agricultural projects is a taboo for Nigeria banks.
Insuring agriculture is also poor for farmers.

Until recently when @NirsalMFB and @nirsalconnect are coming to the aids of farmers, we had no hope to finance. However, both institutes are not doing enough to improve the farmers lots.@ProfOsinbajo @MBuhari
It's important that agriculture and inputs must be subsidzed.

We need to wake up as a nation and feed ourselves. AgriBusiness is the only panacea to the many economic problem facing Nigeria. This sector alone can employ many youths across various value chain.
Nigeria has the potential to feed Africa and the world.
@OoniAdimulaIfe @enny_dee

Our Governors need to revive our settlements,provide adequate infrastr and make farming attractive to d youths.
@GboyegaOyetola @seyiamakinde @RotimiAkeredolu @jidesanwoolu @kfayemi @dabiodunMFR
Kindly contact me for a strategic revitalization plans for the SW farm settlements.

Thank and appreciate a 9ja farmer today because we are the reason you are alive.
We are going through a lot to put food on your table.
Sometimes we don't sleep just like now that am tweeting this.
Thank you.
Bashorun SHA.

Don't forget, I have quality point of lay birds and quality day old chicks for sales. You can also reach out for your farm setup and turnkey projects.