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Reviewed by Omotolani Ajileye

How to Solve Problems of Low Agricultural Productivity in West Africa

Agricultural productivity refers to the amount of agricultural output obtained from a given quantity of land, labour or other resources.

For example, if Farmer A produces 2 tonnes of maize from one hectare while Farmer B produces 5 tonnes from one hectare using better seeds and farming techniques, Farmer B has higher land productivity. The following measures can improve productivity.

1. Mechanisation of Agriculture

One important way of increasing agricultural productivity in West Africa is through mechanisation. Mechanisation means using machines and modern equipment to carry out farming activities that would otherwise require a lot of human labour.

Farmers can use tractors for ploughing, planters for planting, harvesters for harvesting and irrigation equipment for supplying water to crops. Mechanisation allows farmers to cultivate larger areas of land in less time and reduces dependence on manual labour.

Governments should therefore make farm machinery available to farmers at affordable prices and establish machinery-hiring centres in farming communities.

2. Provision of Affordable Agricultural Loans

Farmers need adequate capital to increase their production. Many small-scale farmers cannot afford improved seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, farm machinery and other inputs.

Governments, banks and other financial institutions should therefore provide agricultural loans at affordable interest rates. Loan conditions should also be suitable for farmers because agricultural production may take several months before income is generated.

Easy access to credit will enable farmers to expand their farms, adopt modern technology and increase the quantity and quality of agricultural products they produce.

3. Provision of Improved Seeds

The use of improved or high-yielding seeds can greatly increase agricultural productivity. Improved seeds are varieties developed to produce higher yields and, in some cases, resist diseases, pests or unfavourable weather conditions.

Governments and agricultural research institutions should make improved seeds available to farmers at affordable prices. Farmers should also be educated on how and when to use them. When farmers replace low-yielding traditional varieties with suitable improved varieties, they can obtain more output from the same area of land.

4. Increased Use of Fertilisers

Fertilisers provide nutrients that crops need to grow properly. Continuous cultivation of the same land can reduce soil fertility, causing crop yields to decline.

Farmers should therefore be encouraged to use appropriate fertilisers and other methods of maintaining soil fertility. Governments can make fertilisers more affordable through subsidies and improve their distribution to rural communities.

Farmers should also receive proper guidance on the correct type and quantity of fertiliser to use because excessive or incorrect application can damage the soil and crops.

5. Development of Irrigation

Many farmers in West Africa depend heavily on rainfall. Irregular rainfall, drought and changes in weather conditions can therefore reduce agricultural output. Irrigation involves supplying water to farmland through artificial means such as canals, pumps, dams and sprinklers.

Governments should develop irrigation systems, particularly in areas where rainfall is inadequate or unreliable. Irrigation can allow farmers to produce crops throughout the year instead of depending entirely on the rainy season. It can also make multiple cropping possible and increase total agricultural output.

6. Improvement of Agricultural Extension Services

Agricultural extension services help farmers learn about improved methods of farming. Extension officers can teach farmers about the proper use of fertilisers, improved seeds, pest control, soil management, animal health, harvesting and storage. However, many farming communities don’t have enough extension officers.

Governments should therefore employ and properly equip more agricultural extension workers and ensure that they regularly visit rural farmers. Effective extension services can help farmers adopt modern techniques and avoid practices that reduce productivity.

7. Provision of Rural Infrastructure

The development of rural infrastructure is necessary for increasing agricultural productivity. Farmers need good roads to transport inputs to their farms and agricultural products to markets.

They also need electricity, water, communication networks, storage facilities and irrigation systems. Poor infrastructure increases production and transportation costs and can cause agricultural products to spoil before reaching the market. Governments should therefore improve rural infrastructure so that farmers can produce, store, process and transport their products more efficiently.

8. Improvement of Storage Facilities

Large quantities of agricultural products are lost after harvesting because of inadequate storage facilities. Grains can be attacked by insects and rodents, while fruits, vegetables, fish and other perishable products can spoil quickly.

Governments and private investors should provide appropriate storage facilities such as silos, warehouses, cold rooms and refrigerated facilities. Farmers should also be trained in modern methods of storing agricultural products.

Reducing post-harvest losses means that a greater proportion of what farmers produce will eventually reach consumers, thereby increasing the effective supply of agricultural products.

9. Promotion of Agricultural Research

Agricultural research is important because farming conditions are constantly changing. Research institutions can develop improved seeds, better breeds of livestock, disease-resistant crops, efficient irrigation methods and better techniques for managing soil and pests.

Governments should provide adequate funding for agricultural research institutions and ensure that research findings reach farmers. Research should focus on problems that are common in West Africa, such as drought, soil degradation, pests, crop diseases and post-harvest losses.

Successful agricultural research can help farmers produce more with the resources available to them.

10. Encouraging Young People to Participate in Agriculture

Young people should be encouraged to see agriculture as a profitable business rather than simply a traditional occupation. Many young people leave rural areas for cities because they believe that agriculture provides limited opportunities.

Governments and private organisations can make agriculture more attractive by providing training, access to land, finance, modern equipment and business support. Young farmers are also more likely to adopt technologies such as digital marketing, precision farming and mobile agricultural applications.

Greater youth participation can provide the labour, skills and entrepreneurship needed to modernise agriculture in West Africa.

11. Provision of Adequate Land for Farming

Farmers need access to suitable and secure land if they are to invest in long-term agricultural production. Problems relating to land ownership, inheritance and fragmentation can make it difficult for farmers to obtain sufficiently large plots.

Governments should implement land policies that make agricultural land easier to access while protecting legitimate land rights. Secure access to land can encourage farmers to invest in irrigation, soil improvement, tree crops and other long-term agricultural projects.

12. Effective Control of Pests and Diseases

Pests and diseases can destroy crops and livestock and significantly reduce agricultural output. Governments should strengthen agricultural research and extension services so that farmers can identify and control pests and diseases early.

Farmers should be provided with appropriate pesticides, herbicides, vaccines and other control measures at affordable prices. They should also be taught safe and correct methods of applying agricultural chemicals. Effective pest and disease control will reduce losses and increase the quantity of crops and livestock available for consumption and sale.

13. Development of Agricultural Processing Industries

Agricultural productivity can also be improved by developing industries that process farm products. Processing industries provide a ready market for farmers and reduce post-harvest losses.

For example, cassava can be processed into garri, flour and starch, while cocoa can be processed into cocoa products. When farmers have reliable markets for their products, they have greater incentive to increase production. Processing also adds value to agricultural products and creates employment and income in rural communities.

14. Improvement of Agricultural Marketing

Farmers need reliable markets where they can sell their products at reasonable prices. Poor marketing arrangements can discourage farmers from producing more because they may be unable to sell their products profitably.

Governments should improve market infrastructure, provide market information and encourage farmer cooperatives. Better links between farmers, processors, wholesalers, retailers and consumers will help farmers receive better returns and encourage them to increase production.

15. Promotion of Farmer Cooperative Societies

Farmers can improve their productivity by forming cooperative societies. A cooperative allows farmers to work together to obtain inputs, access credit, transport their products and negotiate with buyers. For example, farmers who purchase fertiliser together may obtain it at a lower price than individual farmers.

Cooperatives can also make it easier for small-scale farmers to access machinery and storage facilities. Strong cooperatives can therefore help small farmers overcome some of the disadvantages of operating individually.

16. Provision of Adequate Security

Agricultural production cannot thrive where farmers are afraid to access their farms. Insecurity can lead to the abandonment of farmland, destruction of crops and livestock, displacement of farming communities and reduced investment in agriculture.

Governments should provide adequate security in farming areas and along major agricultural routes. A safe environment will encourage farmers to return to their farms, invest in production and expand their agricultural activities.

17. Stable and Consistent Agricultural Policies

Governments should develop agricultural policies that are clear, consistent and long-term. Frequent changes in taxes, subsidies, import regulations, agricultural financing schemes and other policies can create uncertainty for farmers and investors. Farmers need to know that government support programmes and regulations will remain reasonably stable.

Consistent policies can encourage farmers and private investors to make long-term investments in machinery, irrigation, processing plants and other agricultural infrastructure.

Summary

Ways of Solving Low Agricultural Productivity in West Africa

• Agricultural mechanisation

• Provision of agricultural loans

• Use of improved seeds

• Adequate use of fertilisers

• Development of irrigation

• Improved extension services

• Agricultural research

• Improvement of rural infrastructure

• Provision of storage facilities

• Provision of processing facilities

• Encouraging young people into agriculture

Also Read: Exceptional Benefits of Systemised Agriculture in West African Economy – Part 1