Sustainablility of Agricultural Transformation Agenda: The Place of Rice Farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Self-sufficiency in rice production and processing has eluded Nigeria for a long time despite continuous efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria towards its realization. Chains of activities in the Nigerian rice production and processing industry are largely executed manually and on small scale level. Thus, the issues of value chain aspects that would have improved the profitability of the rice industry have only just been taken into consideration as part of the Presidential Initiative – Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).This study examines the prospect of Agricultural Transformation Agenda amongst rice farmers in Ogun State where rice production is a growing industry in attempt to achieve food sustainability in line with the Agricultural Transformation Agenda. Well-structured and validated questionnaires are used to survey and report the activities and processes carried out by the rice farmers in target area. However, part of the result of the survey indicated that the level of awareness of Agricultural Transformation Agenda is still very low in the study area. There is need for a conscious and concerted effort to be made by relative Government Agencies to create greater awareness about ATA for the rice farmers and others involved in empowering the growth of the rice industry, otherwise the vision and motives of Agricultural Transformation Agenda may remain just an academic exercise. Other Government Agricultural Policy, for example the Fadama and/or Ogun State Agricultural Development (OGADEP )  were well accepted and their impact is greatly significant in the study area which is a clear indication that ATA strategies like the above-named policies would be well adopted by the rice farmers as well as those related participants like the processing and marketing aspects of the industry if the gospel of Agricultural Transformation Agenda is effectively preached to the rice farmers in the study area.

Key words: Rice industry, Small holder farms, Family labour, Agricultural Transformation Agenda, Government Agricultural Policy, Ogun State, Nigeria.