With the mandate to promote agro-processing, preservation, and storage to reduce pre and post-harvest losses to the barest minimum, Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has the most elaborate functions in Nigeria’s economy.
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Name change
Until the name change, it was known as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. It is one of the cardinal ministries that should drive the economy of Nigeria if the country has not neglected it for decades.
This is a ministry under the regional government before the military takeover that drove the economy of the regions and they were able to build several projects that are still relevant today.
Alh. Abubakar Kyari is the present Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. He succeeds Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, a former minister of Nigeria’s Ministry of Environment. who replaced Sabo Nanono.
Origin of Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Nigeria
The creation of 12 states from the existing four regions by the military regime of Gen Yakubu Gowon in 1967 brought a lot of restructuring into some ministries.
One of them is the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, where each of the new states has a Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Before then, agriculture exports contributed immensely to Nigeria’s revenue and reserve because each of the regions have specific non-oil produce they generated revenue from.
The Northern region generated revenue from groundnut and were famous for groundnut pyramid and sesame seeds cultivation, the Western region created wealth from the cultivation and exports of cocoa while Eastern and Midwestern region dominated the global stage with their palm oil.
However, the ministry has undergone several changes in names and sometimes in re-defined responsibility.
One of such was undertaken by former President Goodluck Jonathan when he split Water resources from the Ministry of Agriculture
Components:
The ministry has several units, departments, and agencies that help it in achieving its mandates. They include:
- 15 Research Institutes
- 16 Federal Colleges and Forestry
- 17 departments
- Universities of Agriculture
Agencies Ministry of Agriculture in Nigeria
Parastatal under Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security are:
- Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Abuja
- Bank Of Agriculture (BOA), Kaduna
- Agricultural And Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin
- Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIS), Abuja
- Nigeria Agricultural Seed Council, Abuja
- National Centre For Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM), Ilorin
- Nigeria Institute Of Animal Science (NIAS), Abuja
- Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan
- Nigeria Institute Of Soil Science (NISS), Abuja
- Veterinary Council Of Nigeria (VCN), Abuja
- National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Abuja
- Agricultural Research Council Of Nigeria (ARCN), Abuja
| Agencies | Year of Establishment |
| NAQS | 2017 |
| BOA | 1972 |
| ARMTI | 1980 |
| NAIS | November 15, 1987 |
| CRIN | December 1, 1964 |
| NASC | December 2007 |
| NCAM | 1990 |
| NIAS | 2007 |
| NISS | 2017 |
| VCN | 1952 |
| NALDA | 1992 |
| ARCN | May 26, 1999 |
Mandates of the agencies
NAQS
To prevent the entry and spread of exotic pests and diseases of plants, animals and aquatic resources and their products into Nigeria
BOA
To provide credit facilities to small and large-scale farmers and small businesses within rural areas to boost food production and agricultural products
ARMTI
To build and strengthen human resources management capacity in the agricultural and rural sectors of the Nigerian economy.
NAIS
To protect agricultural projects against natural hazards
NASC
To develop and regulate the national seed industry
NCAM
To engage in innovative and adaptive research leading to the design and development of efficient agricultural machinery and technologies in Nigeria
NIAS
To regulate Animal Science practice in Nigeria.
NISS
To regulate the profession of Soil Science in Nigeria.
VCN
To register and maintain a register of persons qualified to practice as Veterinary Surgeons in Nigeria
NALDA
To make provision for strategic public support for land development so as to make Nigerians produce what they consume
ARCN
To coordinate, supervise, monitor, and evaluate agricultural research institutes in Nigeria
Core Mandates of FMAFS:
1) To develop an efficient competitive and self–sustaining production, health and management of improved livestock species
2) To provide necessary facilities at the grazing reserves and support ranching facilities.
3) To consistently encourage agricultural commodities development and marketing institutions.
4) To develop integrated Pest Control and Management System for sustainable crop and livestock production in Nigeria
5) To ensure that foreign pests and animal-related diseases do not penetrate the Nigerian market
6) To build capacity and vocational skills for Agric sector and stakeholders.
7) To collaborate with the 36 states and LGA, and other stakeholders in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of agricultural policies throughout Nigeria
8) To create an enabling environment for the cultivation of agricultural products
9) To create marketing opportunities for agricultural products through promotion and support
10) To enhance agricultural production and productivity through the development of agricultural technology
Head office of FMAFS:
- Kapital Road, Area 11, Abuja, Nigeria
- Official website: fmard.gov.ng
Wrapping up:
With agencies and several other departments, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security needs to do more to ensure that some of the incentives, grants, and agricultural loans get to the rural farmer who needs the support to increase production.
Giving incentives to party members who are not real farmers will not make Nigeria food-sufficient country. Most of the real farmers do not speak English, FMARD needs to develop their programmes in local dialect to reach the farmers in rural areas.