As an idea, the Federal Ministry of
Agriculture’s plan to spend billions of naira on imported cell phones for
a phantom 10 million rural farmers fails any test of reason or wisdom. The
motive is suspect, especially as the exact sum to be spent on the project keeps
changing depending on which official is speaking.
While the permanent secretary, Mrs.
Ibukun Odusote, has put the cost of the proposed e-Wallet project at N40
billion or N60 billion, the minister, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, insists that
‘we have not arrived at the budget (yet)’. This in itself is strange
because no matter how tentative a proposal is, it is common sense to have some
cost to work with. And, in the simple case of buying 10
million mobile phones, as claimed by these high government
officials, what rarefied mathematics is required
to calculate the cost?
That the ministry would deem a cell
phone the most urgent need of the Nigerian farmer today is indeed very strange.
Coming from the ministry on Adesina’s
watch, it is doubly mind-boggling. Here is one minister who often appears so
determined, well-intentioned and so much on top of his game that he could
easily be deemed a star of an administration not renowned for surefootedness.
Both Adesina and Odusote have tried to
justify the ‘mobile (phone) initiative’ and in truth, some of the reasons
offered are valid. Farmers do need information on market prices of their
products, on weather conditions and
a reliable channel to communicate
with relevant stakeholders in their line of business. The
‘phones-for-farmers’ idea, however, throws up a number of questions, especially
on the peculiar state of agricultural development in Nigeria.
Pray, how does access to cell phone
contribute directly to the productivity of rural farmers
in comparison with a steady and affordable access to farming
equipment - trucks, tractors and other farm implements, improved
seedlings, cheaper fertiliser, and
other productivity-enhancing resources, more and better trained
and equipped extension workers, even access roads to move produce out
of the farms? And, as Adesina has so often hinted, given
the quantity and cost of food that Nigeria imports, nothing can
be more urgent and important than to produce more food for local
consumption. This, indeed, is a national security challenge that N60 billion or
so judiciously spent, would go a long way to address. The goal to, in the
words of the minister, ‘trigger an information revolution which will drive an
agricultural revolution’ may sound nice, but as a way of
addressing the clear and present needs of Nigerian farmers, it
is no more than grandiloquence.
Besides, were the farmers, directly or
through their respective associations at federal and state levels, consulted on
this idea? Were they given options on the most beneficial assistance they would
require from government? Adesina spoke about a public-private partnership and
an inter-ministerial memorandum of understanding to the project. What exactly
do these mean? Billions of naira is a lot of money in a developing economy. Is
this expenditure another gift to some lucky people, or would it be recouped
from the beneficiaries? If so, how? As a private-sector-driven economy,
surely there are some things that the entrepreneur should be allowed to do for
himself.
Time was when the Federal Government
embarked on a rural telephony project aimed at making telecommunication
accessible to rural communities and generally
make them more livable. This is the purview of the Ministry of
Communications. What happened to this idea which, if faithfully implemented,
would cost farmers less to use as well as benefit other rural dwellers?
That is what would have fitted
perfectly into Adesina’s goal of triggering information revolution and driving
agricultural revolution.
The permanent secretary’s reported hope
to purchase the phones from China and the U.S., ‘probably …direct from the
manufacturing companies’ is not only laughable, it is makes no economic sense
and defies a moral one. This is ten million units of production sustaining jobs
and creating wealth in other economies! If a nation needs so
many handsets from a foreign supplier, that presupposes enough purchasing
power to demand that the supplier sets up a factory locally so
that Nigerians may be employed, acquire skills, and the Nigerian
economy can benefit.
Furthermore, on what basis was it
established that there are 10 million rural farmers in Nigeria and by what
criteria does a farmer qualify for this phone ‘gift’? Even if the idea was
so useful, would a judicious buyer choose a N4,000 or N6,000 phone
whereas functional and reliable handsets are on offer at half that
price, and even less on bulk purchase?
In one breath, the ministry revealed
that the fund for the project has been provided by government; in another
breath, the minister denied that any figure has been decided. Between the
two highest officials in the ministry, whose report should Nigerians
believe? This is one example of why there is no faith in the
government. Trust is the fundament of the social contract between the governor
and the governed. But trust is sorely lacking in this clime, and in consequence,
rumours and suspicion perpetually rules the air. Not a few persons already
hold that large figure expenditure by government lately is a subterfuge for a
2015 war chest. Against this backdrop, even if it were a good idea to buy
phones for 10 million farmers, the timing is deeply suspect.
If the money is already set aside, it
is ipso facto money for the agriculture sector. Let it be spent
judiciously, transparently, and cost- beneficially on that sector.
Nigeria needs revolution in its
agricultural sector. Urgently. And the journey should begin with wisdom in
thoughts and action.
Culled from The Guardian
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