OLUYINKA ALAWODE
OLUYINKA ALAWODE writes that only attractive incentives different from the gruelling traditional approach could encourage young professionals, especially scientists to take to n agricultural production, processing and marketing
Nigeria has reached a very critical point in agriculture because many of our farmers who grow the bulk of food produced here are now very old. If not addressed, food security in Nigeria and most parts of Africa would reach a crisis point. The challenge is getting young people involved in agriculture.” This is the observation of Peter Hartmann, director general, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
Hartmann has observed that young people do not want to go and farm like some of our parents and grandparents did with the hoe all day long under the hot sun. They need strong incentives to come into agriculture, not to do things the old fashion way but with high technology. Therefore, young scientists, technologists and other professionals have to be involved in agricultural production, processing and marketing. Scientific inventions that would ensure massive production, preservation and storage which would translate
into profitability are needed. But the challenge is that many indigenous scientists/ researchers are leaving Africa to study and work abroad.
A cross section of young scientists, while giving reasons for this exodus, pinpoint the challenges it poses but also note that there are certain prospects in it for Nigeria and other African countries. Elom Ogbonnaya, lecturer, Ebonyi State College of Education and senior research fellow at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka says the issue is a great challenge to Nigeria as a nation. Ogbonnaya explains, “Since most of them settle after their studies in those countries, most of the funds that have been used in sending them abroad for training can no longer have direct impact on our home country. This is retrogressive for our nation. Education of a people that cannot be transferred into its own environment for its own development is of no use to the country. But even more painful is the fact that the few scientists that return home are hindered by many factors from
transferring the learning into our environment.”
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Isah Kodan Matthew, agriculture lecturer and weed specialist exposes some of the problems caused by dearth of well trained scientists.
“Since well qualified scientists do not return, we hardly have equipment being developed for researches and productivity which are specific to our own environment -even ordinary spectrometers for plant tests are available in very few places in a big country like Nigeria.
We have to travel far distances to do tests.” Matthew also notes that apart from the challenges posed by absence of well trained scientists, there are also inherent challenges in the country that prevent these scientists from coming back. He says, “If good infrastructure, policies, systems are not in place, they may never come back. But if these things are put in place, they may return. Most people really desire to serve and develop their fatherland but the challenges are too many.”
Chris Obudu, veterinarian at the University of Abuja however sees the issue in a positive light. He says, “Many of these people are products of the Nigerian education system because they did their first or second degree here. When they go for further studies abroad, they usually do well and they are retained, so it is a good image for the country. But he also highlights some of the problems as a result, “However, their departure leaves a vacuum in the institutions they have left. Even when there is replacement, the successor may not have the requisite experience as the person that has left. But those who leave cannot be stopped because their work is more financially rewarding in those foreign countries.”
Azukwu Francis Nwangbo, department of agricultural education, Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo on his part says the issue has both positive and negative implications. “By going to study abroad, our researchers come up with new inventions and this is good for our image. But if these Nigerians do not come back to implement the ideas they have learnt in our own environment, then we have lost. For instance in the African context when a child is sent to fetch water to bring back home for use, if he then starts swimming in the river and gets lost, the purpose of sending the child is defeated.”
Ugochi Amazue, a researcher also notes both sides of the coin. She says, “Going outside to study is good but the problem is staying back there. If majority of our researchers do not come back to implement what they have learnt, Africa will never be as developed as the western world. There are so many problems here – challenges that need solutions and we would not move forward without our professionals. So they should study and come back to contribute to the development of our nation. They remain there because of greener pasture. But it is still possible to be successful here. Another major problem is that the government is not doing much to encourage young scientists. The right policies are not in place and there are not many avenues to implement good ideas.”
Sunny Ahonsi, National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), says it is not a problem that many Nigerian scientists have gone abroad to study abroad and stay back. He adds, “We still have lots of researchers in the country. What we really need to do is to develop and maximise the potentials of those that are still in the country.”
No doubt, that there are still a lot of young people interested in agriculture in Nigeria and the need in the industry is very vast especially in the area of processing. Hartmann says, “The areas of highest priorities in agricultural research are storage and preservation.” Moji Oresanya, a researcher and member of the Women in Processing in Nigeria says developing local machineries and processing of agricultural produce would reduce wastages of fruits a great deal.
She believes that there are still a lot of Nigerian professionals who can handle such processes. Agbor Ndoma, chief executive of Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Development also believes there are Nigerians who can fabricate simple equipment for many of the agricultural processes. But he notes that the major problems are with inconsistent government policies especially in the area of agriculture. He notes that the supporting policies needed for practitioners in the field of agriculture are not in place and when they are, they are inconsistent.
These practitioners have observed that a particular policy may be put in place to encourage certain initiatives but counter policies may come up when another set of leaders take over or even within the same administration of the same leaders.
This is confirmed from Hartmann words, “I am not so excited about government policies and do not like depending on such policies because in Africa we have a bad history in this area. Policies are implemented by one government and then abandoned when a new government comes or even reversed completely. This is very costly and painful to our farmers and businesses. So, policies reversal, poor or non-implementation of policies is a risk factor to agriculture.” He believes the solution to this is for governments to allow a bottom up approach in deciding policies. He says, “I prefer constitutionally supported policies; those are policies coming from the grassroots, communities, businesspeople, farmers, villages. These are supported by the people and they tend to outlast the government. That is far better.”
But for young people who are interested in agriculture, Hartmann says, “They should go with an open mind to the university. Agriculture is now very broad. It encompasses law, commerce, business, biotechnology, computer systems, etc. A young person needs to explore all that the universities have. The young people are really needed in the continent. Agriculture is no longer limited to the traditional field.
We now have high-tech engineering in agriculture. Organisations such as IITA now employ high-tech programmers. We do software business, satellite mapping, biotechnology, engineering, communication. Apart from those directly involved in agricultural production, Africa also needs young scientists/agriculturists to come back, do research and teach in the universities.”
He continues, “Unfortunately, African universities are still teaching the old stuff and they are not exciting youngsters to learn. So, there is need for a whole change in what is taught. We really need our professionals studying in different parts of the world to come back.
But there are still some institutions here in Africa doing their best to keep ahead of current trends.” So for those who may not have the resources or inclination to go abroad and study and possibly get hooked there, he says, “an enterprising student would have to scout very well, surfing the internet to know places in the country or the African continent still offering good education in agriculture.
Searching very well and not giving up until result is achieved is a test of one’s ability. Besides scientific qualifications, when recruiting people, I want to see entrepreneurship. I prefer to employ people who have initiatives, who do not give up easily. When recruiting, we get applications from scientists all over the world, what distinguishes each one from the other is a sense of character, perseverance and ability to keep at it and not give up easily.”
He adds, “Money is not everything. Satisfaction and commitment should matter more to professionals. When African scientists start doing exciting things in the field of science, they would be stimulated; it could reduce the brain drain. Even those that are gone still look for ways to come back but it does not always work out.”
The exodus of scientists especially in the field of agriculture has no doubt left huge vacuum, but Africa, Nigeria in particular is still blessed with many vibrant and intelligent young people, analysts say.
Also, the experts believe some institutions still offer learning that the really enthusiastic young person can still use as platform to build on and become a real professional later if he is committed.
There are challenges, though, especially from the government, but the analysts are convinced that Nigeria still has all it takes to boost agriculture through involving her young scientists and professionals in all the processes and areas involved.
