1 min
There is this saying in the Yoruba language, "Oba lagbe" (A farmer is a king). This is because farmers were considered wealthy and healthy and controlled their assets in land and produce. Also, they make all the decisions throughout the production: what to produce, how to produce, when to sell, how produce should be sold amongst others.
Today, the situation has changed drastically. In all their efforts, farmers are not rewarded as they are mostly price takers and controlled by the middlemen. Thus, they are constantly at the mercy of the middlemen who live large and enjoy more economic benefits from the value chain than the producers. This is a sad situation that needs to be corrected.
Embracing agriculture should not be a sentence into poverty but shared prosperity, where farmers can meet up with their basic needs and cater for their families. This can be possible if we develop an effective social security to protect farmers (this was discussed also in my last letter). We cannot continue to have farmers without protection from external shocks because of the volatility of the agricultural sector especially in developing countries. In addition, farmers' effort needs to be commensurate with the return (at least to a bare minimum) in order for them to meet their personal obligations. We need to restructure our middlemen operating with farmers (especially smallholders) within the agricultural value chain. There is a need to put a regulatory framework and ensure that it is being monitored and assessed periodically to ensure proper implementation and effectiveness.
Furthermore, there is a need for us to embrace technology in production. Mechanisation that enhances productivity and efficiency won't be a bad idea to be adopted by farmers. Planters, harvesters, tractors, weather tracker amongst others would help farmers to optimise resources and improve output. Furthermore, the use of technology for marketing agricultural produce helps to expand local markets and open more opportunities for trade that commands better pricing. Therefore, we need to provide the infrastructure and put structures in place that help farmers to access and embrace these technologies easily and as needed.
In conclusion, as we move towards food security in our nation, we are consciously building a new generation of farmers who enjoy shared prosperity, to increase their farmland (kingdom), with higher productivity (power) and more impact. So, let us build an enviable food system that is resilient and adaptable to new challenges and realities. And it starts now, so that in future, our popular saying will be "Ọba l'agbe to l'ade" (Farmer is a king with a crown).
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
Embracing agriculture should not be a sentence into poverty but shared prosperity, where farmers can meet up with their basic needs and cater for their families. This can be possible if we develop an effective social security to protect farmers (this was discussed also in my last letter). We cannot continue to have farmers without protection from external shocks because of the volatility of the agricultural sector especially in developing countries. In addition, farmers' effort needs to be commensurate with the return (at least to a bare minimum) in order for them to meet their personal obligations. We need to restructure our middlemen operating with farmers (especially smallholders) within the agricultural value chain. There is a need to put a regulatory framework and ensure that it is being monitored and assessed periodically to ensure proper implementation and effectiveness.
Furthermore, there is a need for us to embrace technology in production. Mechanisation that enhances productivity and efficiency won't be a bad idea to be adopted by farmers. Planters, harvesters, tractors, weather tracker amongst others would help farmers to optimise resources and improve output. Furthermore, the use of technology for marketing agricultural produce helps to expand local markets and open more opportunities for trade that commands better pricing. Therefore, we need to provide the infrastructure and put structures in place that help farmers to access and embrace these technologies easily and as needed.
In conclusion, as we move towards food security in our nation, we are consciously building a new generation of farmers who enjoy shared prosperity, to increase their farmland (kingdom), with higher productivity (power) and more impact. So, let us build an enviable food system that is resilient and adaptable to new challenges and realities. And it starts now, so that in future, our popular saying will be "Ọba l'agbe to l'ade" (Farmer is a king with a crown).
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
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