•Flood
According to a Report by the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the recent flood claimed 280 lives, and destroyed 122,330 houses in 31 states.
Presenting the Report at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Executive Director of NAERLS, Professor Emmanuel Ikani said 641,500 persons were displaced as a result of the flood, while 2,504 sustained injuries, reports Nigerian Tribune.
He, however, noted that this year’s flood was caused by heavy rainfall and water from collapsed dams which resulted in significant losses.
Speaking further on the report, Professor Ikani said pest and diseases caused crop losses of up to an average of 35 to 45 percent in some farms in Nigeria estimated at about 54,000 hectares of land in 2024.
He said cereal and legumes, root and tubers, fruits, vegetable, and tree crops were affected in thirty-six (36) states and the FCT.
“Fall armyworm, stem borers, downy mildew, smut, spittle bug, bacterial blight, streak, bacterial blight, and leafy blight were reported in 12 states including Benue, Kaduna, Niger, and Oyo. Brown spots, rice blasts, bacteria leaf blight, Fall army worm, African gall mites, stem borer, rodents, quela birds, and smut in rice with average losses of about 25%.
“Fifteen (15) states reported incidences of diseases and pests on roots and tubers (cassava, yam, cocoyam potato) Cassava mosaic virus, green spider mites, root rot, while flies, brown leafy spots, leaf blight, rodents, monkeys and molt all impacted cassava production at light to moderate status with average losses of 20%.
“Incidences of pests and diseases were reported on tomato across nine (9) states with Tuta absoluta, leaf miners, fruit rot, mosaic, and blossom end rot with estimated yield losses of about 25%.
“Infestation of cocoa by mealy bugs, capsid bugs, black pods, cocoa swelling virus, and pod borer were reported in Edo, Ondo and Osun states. The pod borer disease incidences were severe with estimated yield losses of about 35%,” he noted.
The Report further noted that there was a general increase in the cost of production of major crops in Nigeria in 2024.
“Rice for example increased 37.8% from N423,400/ha in 2023 to N583,505/ha in 2024; while the production cost of maize increased by 69.7% from N330,621/ha in 2023 to N561,237/ha in 2024,” the report stated.
It noted that the increment in the cost of production for all the crops recorded this year implied that most families in Nigeria may face tough time getting these crops in the market due to high market prices across the country.
In its recommendation, the report said there is the need for the development of a long-term strategy on agricultural mechanisation.
“There is the need for the governments to develop a long-term strategy on agricultural mechanization, using Public-Private Partnership in tractor, irrigation and other input service delivery, to boost production and position agriculture in its rightful economic place.
The Report also called for the setting up of Agricultural Trust Fund for farmers in periods of emergency
“The magnitude of flood disasters in 2012, 2019 and 2022, the Covid Pandemic and palliative warehouse looting of 2020, and the inflationary trends of 2023/2024, triggered by the petroleum subsidy removal suggest the need for an Agricultural Trust Fund that would cater to investments in agriculture in periods of emergency— an issue that has been enunciated by the Draft Policy on Agricultural Extension.
“Increasing incidences of flash and epidemic floods, crop and livestock diseases and pests, as well as prolonged dry spells across the states requires that governments at Federal and State levels should increase investment (in funding and infrastructure) as a rapid response strategy in agricultural research and extension on climate-resilient agriculture.
“Cost-effective and efficient input subsidisation blueprints should be evolved and implemented at national and state levels.
“There is a need to harmonise the different produce payment fee/ receipt regimes along inter-state highways, to eliminate multiple taxation; as well provide executive orders on exploitation by law enforcement agencies on the high-way and market places.
“The need for Nigeria, through determined efforts, to strengthen all options (policy, institutional, infrastructures, etc) for agricultural knowledge and information management system. The National Farmers’ Helpline Centres should be a national priority,” the Report added.
