Enumerate four possible solutions to each of the following problems of agricultural development in your country (a) Poor transportation (b) inadequate farm inpouts (c) crude tools (d) inadequate storage facilities
Explanation
Possible solutions to each of the following problems agricultural development in Nigeria are:
(a) Poor Transportation: (i) Construction of new feeder roads to up the rural areas. (ii) Construction of water ways to link up up the riverine areas. (iii) Construction of railways connect rural areas to the urban centres. (iv) Provision motor vehicles, boats and trains to facilitate the evacuation of farm products. (v) Reduction in transportation cost to make such affordable to the rural farmers. (vi) Regular supply of fuel availability of fuel. (vii) Rehabilitation of existing damaged roads. (viii) Construction of bridges and culverts. (ix) U of beast of burden. (x) Availability of spare parts at affordable prices. (ix) Provision of loans/credit facilities to farmers (xii) Provision of seaports and airports. (xiii) Training manpower to maintain and repair vehicles and roads.
(b) Inadequate farm inputs: (i) Availability of fertilizers. (ii) Establishment of seed services for the production a distribution of improved seed to farmers. (iii) Provision of pesticides to farmers at affordable price for plant protection (iv) Provision of day-old chicks and other young starting stock. (v) Provision of feeds. (vi) Provision of drugs a vaccines to livestock farmers. (vii) Establishment of tractor hiring unit at affordable cost to farmers. (viii) Distribution of farm inputs to farmers at appropriate time by the agro-service centres. (ix) Provision of subsidies to assist farm oi their purchase of input.
(c) Crude tools: (i) Local fabrication of farm machinery and equipment should be encouraged to make farm implements suitable for local conditions available for farmers. (ii) Introduction and utilization of modern farm machines and implements. (iii) Establishment of tractor hiring units to make the machine readily available poor farmers who cannot afford to purchase the expensive farm machines. (iv) Training of skilled man-power in the maintenance, repair and operation of sophisticated farm machines. (v) Provision of subsidies to enable farmers purchase modern equipment/tools maintenance (vi) Provision of loans or credit facilities to farmers.
(d) Inadequate storage facilities: (i) Provision of silos in the rural areas for storage of grains by government. (ii) Farmers should be encouraged to construct provision cribs, barns, and rhumbus for proper storage of farm produce after harvesting. (iii) Provision of cold stores for perishable and livestock products. (iv) Provision of processing facilities such as corn mill, cassava grater rice mill and oil palm press to facilitate processing of farm produce after harvesting so as to enhance storage. (v) provision of storage chemicals such as fumigants. (vi) provision of loans/credit facilities to farmers (vii) Education on usage of modern farm tools and techniques.