Legitexams

PROBLEMS OF AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION IN NIGERIA
The agricultural sector despite many decades of neglect remains the highest employer of labour in Nigeria.
The sector employs about 70 percent of the labour force in the country.
Despite this huge number of persons engaged in agriculture, the sector has been unable to meet the food demands of Nigerians.
This has led to massive importation of food into the country.
Conversely, in USA, only about 3 percent of the entire population are farmers. Yet, they are able to meet to a reasonable extent the food needs of the United States.
This massive production rate is made possible by use of sophisticated farming machines. And techniques. Which is totally lacking in the Nigerian farming system.
Majority of the farmers in Nigeria still make use of crude farming tools such as hoe, matchet, diggers and so on.
With only about 2 percent reported to engage in mechanized agricultural system. Thus, the Nigerian farmers are often referred to as hand-hoe farmers.
In fact, the mechanization rate in Nigeria is 0.27 hp/hectare. This is far below the FAO recommended rate of 1.5hp/hectare.
Thailand which is the major supplier of rice to Nigeria has a rate of 0.7hp/hectare.
While highly industrialized countries like Japan has mechanization rate of 7hp/hectare.
The mechanization of the Nigerian agricultural system is constrained by many factors. Some of which are:
• Land tenure system: The land tenure system in Nigeria to an extent discourage farmers from acquiring enough land for large scale farming.
This is due to the fact that the land ownership act encourages fragmentation of farm land.
This hinders agricultural mechanization. Because, it is only commercial agriculture that supports mechanization.
• Poverty and Inaccessibility of credit: Majority of the Nigerian farmers are poor. So, they lack the fund needed to purchase sophisticated farming machines.
The inaccessibility of commercial and federal government loans also worsens this problem.
• Scarcity of machinery: Even the few farmers that can afford these sophisticated farming machines suffer setback.
Because these equipment are not locally manufactured. And importing them from abroad attracts additional expenses. In the form of import duty.
• Poor infrastructure: The poor state of infrastructural facilities in Nigeria is also a factor hindering agricultural mechanization.
Mechanized agriculture encourages mass production for export and future supply.
However, this aim is often defeated by the poor state of infrastructures in the country.
For instance, poor road network, electricity and processing facilities leads to food waste.
• Illiteracy of the farmers: If estimate is anything to go by. we have it that about 60 percent of Nigerian farmers are illiterates.
This makes it difficult for them to adopt modern farming techniques. Or operate the machine even when it is available.
• Lack of maintenance technicians: Even when these sophisticated equipment are available, there are no technicians to take care f them. Or repair them when the need arises.
• Inconsistent government policies: For decades the government has continuously neglected the agricultural sector.
Funds were not provided for purchase of agricultural equipment. And even when such considerations are made, the political class embezzle the money for personal use.