Professor Garba Sharubutu, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), granted an exclusive interview to Abdallah el-Kurebe, Editor-in-Chief of ASHENEWS. In this in-depth conversation, Sharubutu delves into the prospects for applying Nigeria’s agricultural research outcomes and the challenges that accompany them. Excerpts:
There is no better time than now for the application of agricultural research, especially with the government’s efforts to diversify the economy through agriculture. Where are we in Nigeria?
Well, in any system, I find myself always expressing hope. The development of a nation, or human development in general, is highly dependent on several factors. First is the political will to drive the system. Second is leadership—whether the leadership is competent, can carry people along, and understands the purpose for which the system was established. In the past, agricultural research in Nigeria was done in an isolated manner. Each research institute was responsible for the specific crops assigned to it. Fortunately, every part of the country is endowed with one form of agricultural product or another. The challenge of grouping some of these agricultural potentials made it difficult for the research system to operate effectively in isolation.
For example, we have classified our agricultural produce based on crop types. We have root crops like tubers, yams, cassava, potatoes, and ginger. A research institute focused on tuber crops is located in Umudike. However, ginger doesn’t grow in Umudike, but yams do, to some extent. If you go to Benue, Taraba, and Niger, you’ll find cassava. Then, we have oil palm, date palm, palm kernel, and coconut, which are also grouped. Date palm grows in the northern part of the country, but the research institute is located in Benin. Similarly, rubber and Gum Arabic are found in places like Borno, Enugu, and parts of Jigawa, but again, the research institute is in Benin. The Cocoa Research Institute, which covers crops like coffee, tea, and kola nut, is also located elsewhere, although tea can also be found in Taraba. The geographic distribution of these research institutes often doesn’t align with where the crops are grown.
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Nigeria doesn’t need a farmer who is the sole administrator on his farm. Farming should be unbundled into services provided by different people or organizations. Cooperative societies should play a significant role in this. We need people who will invest in farming, and by doing so, it will be more affordable. If one person invests in farming, they won’t make much profit, but collectively, we can achieve more.
To address this, we established stations in different parts of the country to bring research closer to where it is needed. However, that alone is not enough. Developing agricultural products is just the first step; adding value to them requires collaboration among different research institutes. Operating in isolation has become a challenge. For instance, the National Institute for Horticultural Research focuses on mangoes and other fruits. However, it’s not enough to simply produce better seedlings for mangoes; we also need to address storage and post-harvest management, which is the responsibility of another institute in Ilorin. If the institute responsible for post-harvest technology doesn’t collaborate with those involved in processing, there will be problems. Similarly, for cereals like rice and sugarcane, which are researched in places like Badagry, collaboration is essential. Universities like ABU Zaria focus on crops like groundnut, cowpea, and maize, while Lake Chad Research covers other areas. However, by law, these institutions have been operating in isolation.
To improve coordination, the government recognized the need to bring these research institutes together under a common platform to reduce bureaucracy. This led to the establishment of a regulatory council in 2007, based on a decree from 1999. This council advises the government on matters related to research, extension, and training. Training is crucial because transferring knowledge from research institutes to farmers requires specialists. Nigeria is one of the few countries where agricultural research institutes have associated colleges of agriculture, allowing them to transfer knowledge effectively. The Agricultural Research Council was established to coordinate these efforts and ensure that research meets government policies. By doing so, we aim to eliminate isolated thinking and promote synergy.
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Second, we need to unbundle farming and provide incentives. Young people should see farming as a viable career option, not just as manual labor. By breaking farming down into specialized areas and providing proper training, we can attract youth to the industry. I also want to mention the importance of technology in farming. With modern tools and techniques, farming doesn’t have to be backbreaking work. If we introduce youth to these technologies early on, they will be more likely to see farming as a viable and attractive career. Finally, we need to provide support in the form of access to land, funding, and mentorship. Young farmers need to know that they have a future in this industry. By addressing these issues, we can ensure that the next generation is more involved in farming.
Now, to answer your question about where we are: The government has made significant progress. It’s not just about developing new information or crops. For instance, a research institute cannot simply develop a new cassava variety and sell it in the market without proper review and regulation. The government has established agencies like the National Biotechnology Development Agency under the Ministry of Science and Technology to ensure that any new development is bio-compliant. There’s also the National Agricultural… (I will provide the full name later), which ensures that any product released to the public has gone through due process. Additionally, the National Seed Council regulates seed development, ensuring that seeds aren’t mixed with inferior products. The government has also established the National Plant Protection Agency to protect scientists and their work. The goal is to ensure that whatever we produce is safe for human consumption and the environment. We are moving away from isolated approaches and working closely with the ministries of Environment and Science and Technology. I believe we are on the right track and will achieve significant progress.
What is the current status of agricultural research funding, and how much private sector funding have these centers or this council attracted?
As you mentioned, our main sources of funding have been the national budget and donor agencies. The national budget has been insufficient for research, mainly because the budget template doesn’t support long-term research projects. For example, research that requires 10 to 50 years of consistent funding is hampered by budget cycles that release funds in December, only to withdraw them shortly after. This approach doesn’t support meaningful research. Donor agencies have been more reliable. They often operate under multinational corporations or philanthropists like Bill and Melinda Gates. These donors provide funding based on the financial needs of the research, ensuring that funds are released as needed. Consequently, many of our successful research projects have been linked to these multinational and donor agencies.
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I believe our educational system has not adequately emphasized the importance of farming. Our educational policy should ensure that students, from secondary school through the university level, are exposed to farming. Let me share a practical example. In Japan, before a child finishes secondary school, they must have gone through a form of farming. Whether it’s poultry, fisheries, or crops, every child must be involved. This teaches them that food doesn’t just come from supermarkets—it’s a process that involves real work. Our educational policy needs to be revisited. The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been working on revising the curriculum, but we need to ensure that farming is integrated from the grassroots level. Children should know what farming is about, and they should be exposed to it in school.
However, the government has recognized the need to change the budgeting template for research. Although we haven’t yet succeeded in this area, the government has entered into partnerships with various organizations. We are up to date with our financial commitments to agencies like UCIRAF, FARA (Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa), and AATF (African Agricultural Technology Foundation). These partnerships have been beneficial. The Islamic Organization for Food Security has also stepped in to support our research in terms of funding and facilities. One area where we haven’t succeeded is with Tetfund, which is intended to support research. However, our minister is working diligently with the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to explore funding opportunities for agricultural research.
One challenge has been our inability to attract private-sector funding. While the private sector hasn’t been heavily involved, we also haven’t done enough to seek their support. The amended act of 2021 now gives us the authority to establish companies that will be integral parts of our research institutes. These companies will help market our products, thereby increasing our internally generated revenue and reducing our reliance on the national budget. There is also a bill awaiting approval by the President, which is expected to promote agricultural development. With these developments, we will focus on capacity building for our staff and aim to achieve significant progress.
Let’s discuss the archives of the 15 research centers, 18 agricultural colleges, and 3 universities of agriculture that you coordinate. Which of the shelved research projects should be brought to the forefront?
Before the amendment, we had 16 National Mechanization Centers attached to us, 16 agricultural colleges, and four universities of agriculture, with which we only partner; we don’t coordinate them.
Training is crucial because transferring knowledge from research institutes to farmers requires specialists. Nigeria is one of the few countries where agricultural research institutes have associated colleges of agriculture, allowing them to transfer knowledge effectively. The Agricultural Research Council was established to coordinate these efforts and ensure that research meets government policies. By doing so, we aim to eliminate isolated thinking and promote synergy.
Which of these research projects do you think should be brought to the forefront?
Number one, let’s consider NCAM (National Center for Agricultural Mechanization) in Ilorin. Every year, they showcase their innovations at agricultural exhibitions. When Abdullahi Adamu was the governor of Nasarawa State, he introduced an agricultural show and demonstration, which has been a platform for NCAM to demonstrate their capacity to industrialize and mechanize our agriculture.
Despite fabricating numerous tools, machines, planters, harvesters, and even a yam heap moulding machine, NCAM has not yet scaled up their production due to a lack of private sector patronage. If we focus on mechanization, encourage NCAM, and involve the private sector, we can significantly reduce labour costs and, consequently, the prices of foodstuffs. Mechanization is the way forward, and if we support our center for mechanization, we will achieve a lot. Secondly, we don’t want our research teams to continue producing more and more varieties without thorough focus. We want to concentrate on doing a very good job with the varieties we already have. For example, the Soil Science Council’s bill will allow us to study our soil types and create a soil map of the country. This will help our research teams focus on developing materials that are more beneficial and productive based on climate, soil type, and other factors. The government has been committed to advancing agriculture. All these agencies, including the Soil Science Council, fall under this administration’s efforts to promote agriculture.
Mechanization is a significant issue, but affordability for the average Nigerian farmer is another. Many farmers are poor and cannot afford inputs like fertilizers and sprayers. How will you tackle the issue of affordability in mechanization?
This is an area I’m very passionate about. Where are the cooperative societies? Do we have them? Farming should be a collective effort, not something a single person can shoulder alone. During Adesina’s time as Minister of Agriculture, the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme was introduced to make farming a business. Nigeria doesn’t need a farmer who is the sole administrator on his farm. Farming should be unbundled into services provided by different people or organizations. Cooperative societies should play a significant role in this. We need people who will invest in farming, and by doing so, it will be more affordable. If one person invests in farming, they won’t make much profit, but collectively, we can achieve more.
Is NCAM doing anything in the area of generation?
Yes, NCAM is active in this area, and it aligns with the policies of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. We have a department focused on climate-smart agriculture. With the conclusion of the APP (Agricultural Promotion Policy), the Ministry has issued the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), which I believe will cover some of these areas. NCAM has also produced briquettes from rice husks, which can be used for cooking.
Given that the average age of a Nigerian farmer is over 60 years, how can we encourage youth involvement in farming?
This issue requires careful consideration. First, I believe our educational system has not adequately emphasized the importance of farming. Our educational policy should ensure that students, from secondary school through the university level, are exposed to farming. Let me share a practical example. In Japan, before a child finishes secondary school, they must have gone through a form of farming. Whether it’s poultry, fisheries, or crops, every child must be involved. This teaches them that food doesn’t just come from supermarkets—it’s a process that involves real work. Our educational policy needs to be revisited. The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been working on revising the curriculum, but we need to ensure that farming is integrated from the grassroots level. Children should know what farming is about, and they should be exposed to it in school.
Second, we need to unbundle farming and provide incentives. Young people should see farming as a viable career option, not just as manual labor. By breaking farming down into specialized areas and providing proper training, we can attract youth to the industry. I also want to mention the importance of technology in farming. With modern tools and techniques, farming doesn’t have to be backbreaking work. If we introduce youth to these technologies early on, they will be more likely to see farming as a viable and attractive career. Finally, we need to provide support in the form of access to land, funding, and mentorship. Young farmers need to know that they have a future in this industry. By addressing these issues, we can ensure that the next generation is more involved in farming.
