Agric Investors urge ATA Sustenance in Buhari’s Administration

Agric investors in the country have urged the incoming government of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) to sustain the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) started by the current President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration when it takes over.

Anga Sotonye, a commodity exporter and publicity secretary, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), said, “ATA has been so wonderful; it should be retained irrespective of the fact that it was started by another government, but it can be improved upon but must not be thrown out.” Sotonye, however, urged the incoming government to float a very large fund of about N1 trillion to N2 trillion which will be an all- inclusive fund as soft loan for the various sub-sectors in the agric industry.

“The new administration needs to accept that financing agriculture is quite expensive but crucial to full attainment of a green revolution and massive job creation. The fund will be needed to finance every aspect of the value chain of key commodities such as cashew, cocoa, gum Arabic, oil palm and so on. The cashew industry for instance needs N50 billion to finance various levels of businesses in the value chain.

But it is one thing to create fund and another to be accessible to the real stakeholders in the industry.” Speaking further on how such loans should be operated, Anga added, “The demand for collateral is one factor hindering farmers and other agribusiness investors from accessing existing funds. Loans can be given through clear-cut identification.

Every farmer or agribusiness player can be identified through databases and tracked down if they default in loan repayment. They definitely live somewhere, have phone numbers, have families, should belong to associations or have voters’ registration card. If they are given single digit interest loans to improve their agribusinesses and attempt to default, let it be in their consciousness that the discipline the new president is known for will come to play.

So they had better use the money for what it is meant for.” Edobong Akpabio, a crop farmer and publicity secretary, NECA Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW), also urged continuity of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda in the new administration, saying many private investors have made heavy financial commitments. “ATA has developed a life of its own. It needs to be maintained and improved upon. For instance, the new president must not allow reintroduction of fraud into the fertiliser subsidy allocation to farmers.

The Growth Enhancement Scheme is working for us and should not be tampered with”, Akpabio added. She, however, said that the new president must work at making access to land for agricultural purposes easier by getting the state governors to commit to it during their council of state meeting.” Tuned Sanni, a fish farmer and former executive of Lagos State Commercial Agriculture Development Association (CADA), also urged the incoming government to build on the Agricultural Transformation Agenda and maintain focus on agriculture as a revenue earner for the country since the price of crude oil has become erratic.

Sanni added, “The government must also look into the strength of the dollar to the naira because it is affecting the cost of agricultural equipment which are still being imported.” Ayoola Oduntan, poultry farmer and national president, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), said the good policies of the current administration should be maintained in the new government.

Citing an example, he said, “There have been attempts by the current government to increase maize production to ensure adequate supply to the poultry industry.” He, however, said the shortcomings in agricultural loans such as too short moratorium can be addressed by the new government.