During the Agriculture Summit Africa 2024, organised by Sterling Bank on November 11 & 12, 2024, Dr Odutan, the Managing Director of AMO Farms Factory Limited, highlighted the progress and challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Dr Odutan, an agricultural expert and industry leader, acknowledged the remarkable strides made in Nigeria’s agricultural industry. He pointed out that in the 1990s, the average poultry farmer in Nigeria could only achieve around 190-200 eggs per cycle, whereas today, farmers produce 280-300 eggs per cycle. Similarly, broilers that previously required eight weeks to reach 2kg now attain the same weight in 35 days. Additionally, yields in crops such as maize and soybeans have significantly improved, showcasing advancements in farming techniques and inputs.
However, these gains have been countered by population growth, infrastructure deficits, and inconsistent policies, making it difficult for the sector to sustain its progress.
According to him, “We have also made progress in population growth. So where we were talking about 150, 180, 200 million, now we’re hearing about 250. So, you’ve all been very busy, you know, keeping that trend going, and I think if we were in a European country where populations were trending, we would still be in a bit of a difficult situation, but it would not be as critical as it is now.”
Highlighting several agriculture challenges affecting farmers and agribusinesses, Dr Odutan explained that many farmers, particularly smallholders, struggle to access credit for inputs, mechanisation, and expansion.
“For instance, there are clusters of farmers and manufacturers that employ thousands of people. Still, they have no roads and no infrastructure, they are experiencing multiple taxes, and they don’t have access to raw materials. They don’t have markets for their products, and, if we’re going to be very, very honest with ourselves, not enough has been done to ensure that these people remain in business and grow. So, I would like to say that our short-term management of agricultural development, where policy changes every time with new people in government, has to change,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Oduton remains optimistic about the future of agriculture in Nigeria. He highlights key opportunities such as increased investment in agritech (digital solutions, precision farming, and mechanisation) to boost efficiency and yields. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can enhance financing, infrastructure, and research while encouraging youth involvement in agribusiness through innovation and value addition to revitalising the sector. Additionally, Nigeria has strong export potential if the right policies are implemented to reduce reliance on oil revenue.
Dr Oduton emphasised the need for harmonised agricultural policies and stronger government and private sector collaboration to ensure sustainable growth. He proposed key performance indicators (KPIs) for policymakers to maintain progress across administrations. While praising initiatives like Special Agricultural Processing Zones (SAPZs), he stressed that reviving existing agribusinesses is essential to attracting new investment and fostering long-term sector development.
As Nigeria navigates the complexities of its agricultural landscape, industry leaders like Dr. Odutan continue to advocate for policies and innovations that will drive the sector’s long-term success.
