Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Global Push To Achieve SDGs Vision and Words with Action Agenda 37

ISPE       EAG
INTERATIONAL SOCIETY FOR POVERTY ELIMINATION                   ECONOMIC ALLIANCE GROUP

Community and Country Development Plans Aligned and Harmonized to Global Goals: AAAA, SDG, COP21: Nigeria Agriculture Revolution Vision Ambition Working Paper
                                                                                          6 February 2017                                                                                                                    

Executive Summary

Strategic Objectives

1.     Help achieve Zero Hunger in each Community in each of 774 Local Governments, in each of 36 States and FCT in Nigeria
2.     Help restore the Lost Glory of Agriculture Extension Services in Nigeria.
3.     Help restore the Lost Glory of Cooperatives Services in Nigeria.
4.     Help reinvent Rural Agriculture and Urban Agriculture in Nigeria.
5.     Help reinvent Community Development in Nigeria.
6.     Significantly Improve Health, Living Standards and Welfare of Nigerians, particularly the over 120 million Poor.

The Overall Strategic Objective is the promotion and protection of Agriculture Sustainable Solutions in each Community in each of 774 Local Governments in each of 36 States and FCT in Nigeria as well as at National and International levels.

Fundamental Issues
1.     Disconnect between National/State Agriculture Policies, Programs and Projects; other ongoing National/State Reform Policies, Programs and Projects; Global Goals - Development Finance: AAAA, Sustainable Development: SDG and Climate Change: COP21 and OHSF (National) / OHSS (State).
2.     Disconnect between ongoing National/State Anti Corruption Policies, Programs and Projects; National/State Complaints and Grievances Resolution Policies, Programs and Projects; National/State Sanctions Enforcement Policies, Programs and Projects and OHSF (National) / OHSS (State) and other National/State Reform Policies, Programs and Projects.
3.     Disconnect between Sub-national, National, Sub-regional, Regional and Global Development Cooperation Policies, Programs and Projects in each Community in each of 774 LGs in each of 36 States and FCT and Country level in Nigeria.
4.     The Hexagonal Set of Core Actors: Government - President/Governors; Senate President, Speaker (NASS / State); Chief Judge (National / State); Government - Leadership Civil Service and Public Service; Government – Joint High Command (National / State) Military, Police, Secret Service, other Security Agencies; Traditional Institutions - Traditional Rulers 1st – 4th Class; Religious Institutions - Leadership Christian, Muslim and Traditional Religious Institutions and Community Associations – Community Leaders and Opinion Leaders are not meaningfully involved in removing Disconnect in (1) - (3).
5.     The Greater Majority of Nigerians irrespective of Age, Education, Gender, Class, Religion, Political or any other Interest are not meaningfully involved in removing Disconnect in (1) - (3).

These 5 Fundamental Issues present real and complex challenges on the ground that Nigerian Governments: Federal, 36 States, FCT and 774 LGs and Nigerian Civil Society, that is all concerned Governments and Non Government Entities in Nigeria and their Foreign Partner Governments and Non Government Entities must individually and collectively tackle if systemic corruption is to be reduced to Zero level in Nigeria. This is because Systemic Corruption is the over-arching reason responsible for government failure to design and deliver the type of Democracy Dividends Nigerians Desire and Deserve on successful and sustainable basis.

If Nigeria is to achieve Global Goals and National Goals by scheduled dates, a Corruption Free Society in Nigeria is a necessary enabling climate for removing all shortcomings, drawbacks and hindrances in the work towards the design and delivery of research, implementation, evaluation and success: sustainable solutions to real and complex problems on the ground of Informality, Formality, Inclusive Growth, Inequality, Poverty Elimination and Environmental Sustainability in past and ongoing National and International Development Cooperation Policy, Program, Project Interventions. This underlines urgent need for a Comprehensive Program which adopts a Holistic Approach towards the Community to Global Sustainable Solutions to the Complex Corruption Problems and Complex Sectoral, Services, Issues Problems in the Nigerian Economy.

Value Oriented Dimension of National Reform Program

The Value Oriented Dimension of the entire National Reform Program needs to be articulated and agreed to by all Community to Global Stakeholders in the Nigeria Economy and should include: Restoring Old Values in our Country, meaningfully involving every Nigerian, as described above, in the effort to Rediscover Nigeria, to effectively tackle both Petty Corruption and Grand Corruption, in bringing Potency to Government through bringing efficiency and effectiveness to Government Business and to make sufficient difference as to achieve within the next 5 years a Corruption Free Nigeria; within the next 10 years a Hunger Free Nigeria and within the next 13 years a Poverty Free Nigeria, that is achieve all 17 Goals of the SDGs in Nigeria by 2030.

The operation of a Value Oriented Dimension of the entire National Reform Program calls for return to a National Development Plan that is a Deepening of NEEDS to NEEDS 2, that is essentially a Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) that is a Living Strategy taking shape as it is put into practice and that this Living Strategy encompasses a Communication Strategy that is aimed at building an accurate and up to date understanding of the Business of Business as the Primary Focus of the Private Sector - Micro Enterprises, Small and Medium Enterprises, Large Enterprises and Multinationals and the Business of Governance as the Primary Focus of Governments at Federal, 36 States, FCT and 774 LG levels in Nigeria as well as meaningfully involving all Community to Global Stakeholders in the Nigerian Economy in the Great Task of Building National and International Consensus to achieve National Goals and Global Goals, without which the Principles of Business of Business and Business of Governance cannot be successfully implemented and evaluated in Practice in specific Community to Global context in Nigeria and on successful and sustainable basis.

These discussions within the CPS that is a Joint National Development Cooperation and International Development Cooperation Initiative, that is a Global Goals Action Agenda aligned and harmonized with Community Development Plans for each Community, LG Development Plans for each of the 774 LGAs, State Development Plans for each of the 36 States and FCT and National Development Plan Communication Strategy will continue so that Key Actors in all relevant Community to Global Stakeholder Groups are aware of Results on the ground as well as challenges and ways each National and International Partner is meeting its obligations and responsibilities within the CPS.

Repositioning the Nigeria Agriculture Revolution Policies, Programs and Projects

The past and current Governments at Federal and States levels have undertaken over the years several Agriculture Revolution Policies, Programs and Projects, yet these Policies, Programs and Projects have not contributed significantly towards ending hunger and poverty in our Country.

If we do not know why past and current Agriculture Revolution Policies, Programs and Projects had flaws and failures, we will not know how to design and deliver new Agriculture Revolution Policies, Programs and Projects that will succeed on sustainable basis in the work towards ending hunger and poverty in Nigeria.

This underlines the urgent need to Reposition the Nigeria Agriculture Revolution Policies, Programs and Projects to deliver the type of democracy dividends Nigerians desire and deserve. The Nigeria Agriculture Sector has the potential to help end hunger and poverty in Nigeria as well as create meaningful on farm and off farm employment.

A Repositioned Nigeria Agriculture Revolution Policies, Programs and Projects in each Community in each of 774 LGs in each of 36 States and FCT, National and International levels will address Agriculture: Crops, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture – Pre Harvest, Harvest and Post Harvest real and complex problems on the ground from Community to Global levels. This calls for National and International Agriculture Value Chain Development that works as well as National and International Division of Labour.

It is pertinent to note that Climate Change has made Agriculture more challenging. Without modern knowledge, it will be especially difficult for Family Farmers to establish profitable farms that can sustain them and their families.
It is pertinent to note further that there is a level of Research in Crops but this is below minimum International levels and that the level of Research in remaining Agriculture Sectors – Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture is significantly lower than the Research in Crops and this highlight the magnitude of the Agriculture Research that needs to be done if Nigeria is to optimize its Agriculture Production, Processing, Packaging, Storage, Marketing and Transportation Potential. Agriculture Research in the new dispensation should focus on significantly improving family farmers yield and profit; significantly reducing post harvest losses; significantly ending hidden hunger that is improving nutrition value and therapy value of Nigerian food and functional food; significantly improving the Agro Allied and Agro Processing Sectors in Nigeria; significantly improving quality of indigenous plants and animals and related products and bye products to world class standards etc.

The Nutrition Potential of Food and Agriculture is being better appreciated in North Countries through Functional Foods that have significant Therapy Value. A situation where there is Linked Food, Agriculture, Nutrition, Health, Wellbeing and Lifestyle Policies, Programs and Projects in each Community in each of 774 LGs, each of 36 States and FCT and National levels in Nigeria will contribute significantly towards the sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s National Economy problems.

There is no reason why Biogas from Agriculture Waste cannot be used to generate electricity to power the Modern Farms and Agro Allied Enterprises operating within Community Integrated Farm Estates, CIFE. There is no reason why the huge Post Harvest Losses cannot be significantly reduced and there is no reason why Agriculture Wastes cannot be turned into Agriculture Wealth. To achieving these huge Agriculture Revolution Potentials from Community to Global levels calls for Focused Community to Global Collective Actions including - Attitudinal and Behavioural Change; Innovation and Creativity; Applied Research; Applied History; Restoring Lost Glory of Agriculture Cooperatives and Improving Agriculture Investments through Community Development Limited Liability Companies etc.

Repositioning the entire National Reform Program

The Agriculture Revolution is a Primary Revolution that needs to be designed and delivered alongside other Primary Revolutions – Government Revolution, Enterprise Revolution, Attitudinal and Behavioural Change Revolution, Applied Research Revolution, Applied History Revolution, Data Revolution, Digital Revolution and Secondary Revolutions – Education Revolution, Health Revolution, Water Revolution, Justice Revolution, Anti Corruption Revolution etc within a National Development Initiative that is a National Reform Program powered by the entire Budget of all tiers of Government and entire Country Partnership Strategy Budget of International Partners.



Repositioning the Public Service and Civil Service

The Public Service and Civil Service is the Engine of the National Economy. It is the Public Service and Civil Service that determine the success or otherwise of the Primary Revolutions and Secondary Revolutions.

It is the elected Politicians, appointed Politicians, Leadership of the Public Service and Civil Service that Mobilize Political Will for Driving Implementation and Evaluation of the Primary Revolutions and Secondary Revolutions in their Constituency / Duty Area.

Repositioning the Traditional Institutions

The Traditional Rulers are the Royal Fathers in their Domain. It is Traditional Rulers genuinely committed to Developing their Communities that can mobilize Public Will for Driving Implementation and Evaluation of the Primary Revolutions and Secondary Revolutions in their Domain.

There is a need to strengthen our Traditional Rulers to deploy their Influence to deploy Agriculture Revolution and complementary Primary and Secondary Revolutions in ways that help end hunger and poverty in their Domain.

Comprehensive Approach

The operation in practice of the ideas and suggestions set out in this Paper greatly depends on Comprehensive or Common and Systemic Approach towards addressing all Human Resources Development, HRD and Non HRD Components of each Primary Revolution and Secondary Revolution.

There is a Need for Elected Politicians (President / Governors), Appointed Politicians, Senior Civil Servants and Senior Public Servants and Joint Service Chiefs to serve as Co Chief Champions of the Comprehensive Approach. Also, there is a need for Traditional Rulers (1st – 4th Class), Religious Leaders and Community Leaders to serve as Co Chief Champions of the Comprehensive Approach.

Prayers

There is urgent need for complimentary action at National and State levels, hence the following Prayers:-
1.     Take up with President Buhari points raised in the 16 March 2016 letter to President Buhari through DG DSS and Ondo Sate Director DSS.
2.     Serve as Co Chief Champion Nigeria Rescue Mission; Patron NEHAP/ISPE/EAG; Angel Investor NEHAP CIFE, CDCL, MCSL, MCUL, MCBCSL.
3.     Help to Galvanize Traditional Rulers to Catalyze Building and Nurturing of Community Integrated Farm Estate, CIFE in their Domain
4.     Help to convert Brain Drain to Brain Gain such that Brexit and Trump can be Force for Good helping Nigeria to actualize her Potential and in ways that effectively strengthen South South Cooperation and North South Cooperation.
5.     Support Agriculture Revolution that Drive Community to Global TRANSFORMATION of Individuals, Institutions and Societies Driving Increasing Convergence between 2030 Agenda: AAAA, SDG, COP21 aligned and harmonized to Community Development Plan and Country Development Plans in each Community in each of 774 LGs in each of 36 States and FCT and National Vision Intention and Reality by target date.
6.     Any other practical help and support that could help tackle Hunger, Poverty, Insecurity, Terrorism, Climate Change real and complex Community to Global problems on the ground in each Community in each of 774 LGs in each of 36 States and FCT and National levels in Nigeria.
Conclusion 

Agriculture Revolution that works to deliver the type of Democracy Dividends Nigerians in each Rural and Urban Community Desire and Deserve could be designed and delivered if the Hexagonal Set of Core Actors genuinely commit individually and jointly towards grappling effectively with all challenges that could hinder achieving the 6 Strategic Objectives identified in this Paper and this includes tackling the Fulani Herdsmen Menace in ways that defend Justice and protect Rights of the Fulani Herdsmen, the Crop Farmers and the Host Community.

Nigeria’s Agriculture: Crops, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries, Aquaculture – Production, Processing, Packaging, Storage, Marketing and Transportation Potential is Huge. The actualization of this huge potential through Agric Mechanization and Modernization is a Master Key to transform Poverty into Prosperity in Nigeria on successful and sustainable basis and in record time. Nigeria has the Human, Natural, Spiritual and Material Resources to actualize this huge potential. However, all necessary arrangements cannot be left to happen on its own but need to be discussed, negotiated, agreed and established and on time. This requires the Hexagonal Set of Core Actors genuinely accept the Role of Co Chief Champions. Co Chief Champions can help ensure they accept this Role as Platform to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria Rescue Mission that Work.

The Nigeria Rescue Mission is a Task that Must be Done, if Nigeria’s real and complex Political, Cultural, Economic, Financial, Social, Environmental, Peace, Security, Religious, Moral, Legal and Technical problems on the ground in each Community in each of 774 LGAs in each of 36 States and FCT, at National and International levels are to be solved on sustainable and sustainable basis. To achieve this Eminent Nigerians who accept to as Co Chief Champions have Unique and Central Role to Play.

Contact: DG ISPE/EAG -  nehap.initiative@yahoo.co.uk



Main Paper

Strategic Objectives

1.     Help achieve Zero Hunger in each Community in each of 774 Local Governments, in each of 36 States and FCT in Nigeria
2.     Help restore the Lost Glory of Agriculture Extension Services in Nigeria.
3.     Help restore the Lost Glory of Cooperatives Services in Nigeria.
4.     Help reinvent Rural Agriculture and Urban Agriculture in Nigeria.
5.     Help reinvent Community Development in Nigeria.
6.     Significantly Improve Health, Living Standards and Welfare of Nigerians, particularly the over 120 million Poor.

The Overall Strategic Objective is the promotion and protection of Agriculture Sustainable Solutions in each Community in each of 774 Local Governments in each of 36 States and FCT in Nigeria as well as at National and International levels.

Fundamental Issues
1.     Disconnect between National/State Agriculture Policies, Programs and Projects; other ongoing National/State Reform Policies, Programs and Projects; Global Goals on Development Finance: AAAA, Sustainable Development: SDG and Climate Change: COP21 and OHSF (National) / OHSS (State).
2.     Disconnect between ongoing National/State Anti Corruption Policies, Programs and Projects; National/State Complaints and Grievances Resolution Policies, Programs and Projects; National/State Sanctions Enforcement Policies, Programs and Projects and OHSF (National) / OHSS (State) and other National/State Reform Policies, Programs and Projects.
3.     Disconnect between Sub-national, National, Sub-regional, Regional and Global Development Cooperation Policies, Programs and Projects in each Community in each of 774 LGs in each of 36 States and FCT and Country level in Nigeria.
4.     The Hexagonal Set of Core Actors: Government - President/Governors; Senate President, Speaker (NASS / State); Chief Judge (National / State); Government - Leadership Civil Service and Public Service; Government – Joint High Command (National / State) Military, Police, Secret Service, other Security Agencies; Traditional Institutions - Traditional Rulers 1st – 4th Class; Religious Institutions - Leadership Christian, Muslim and Traditional Religious Institutions and Community Associations – Community Leaders and Opinion Leaders are not meaningfully involved in removing Disconnect in (1) - (3).
5.     The Greater Majority of Nigerians irrespective of Age, Education, Gender, Class, Religion, Political or any other Interest are not meaningfully involved in removing Disconnect in (1) - (3).


These 5 Fundamental Issues present real and complex challenges on the ground that Nigerian Governments: Federal, 36 States, FCT and 774 LGs and Nigerian Civil Society, that is all concerned Governments and Non Government Entities in Nigeria and their Foreign Partner Governments and Non Government Entities must individually and collectively tackle if systemic corruption is to be reduced to Zero level in Nigeria. This is because Systemic Corruption is the over-arching reason responsible for government failure to design and deliver the type of Democracy Dividends Nigerians Desire and Deserve.

This is because Systemic Corruption is the over-arching reason responsible for government failure to design and deliver the type of Democracy Dividends Nigerians Desire and Deserve on successful and sustainable basis.

If Nigeria is to achieve Global Goals and National Goals by scheduled dates, a Corruption Free Society in Nigeria is a necessary enabling climate for removing all shortcomings, drawbacks and hindrances in the work towards the design and delivery of research, implementation, evaluation and success: sustainable solutions to real and complex problems on the ground of Informality, Formality, Inclusive Growth, Inequality, Poverty Elimination and Environmental Sustainability in past and ongoing National and International Development Cooperation Policy, Program, Project Interventions. This underlines urgent need for a Comprehensive Program which adopts a Holistic Approach towards the Community to Global Sustainable Solutions to the Complex Corruption Problems and Complex Sectoral, Services, Issues Problems in the Nigerian Economy.

Value Oriented Dimension of National Reform Program

The Value Oriented Dimension of the entire National Reform Program needs to be articulated and agreed to by all Community to Global Stakeholders in the Nigeria Economy and should include: Restoring Old Values in our Country, meaningfully involving every Nigerian, as described above, in the effort to Rediscover Nigeria, to effectively tackle both Petty Corruption and Grand Corruption, in bringing Potency to Government through bringing efficiency and effectiveness to Government Business and to make sufficient difference as to achieve within the next 5 years a Corruption Free Nigeria; within the next 10 years a Hunger Free Nigeria and within the next 13 years a Poverty Free Nigeria, that is achieve all 17 Goals of the SDGs in Nigeria by 2030.

The operation of a Value Oriented Dimension of the entire National Reform Program calls for return to a National Development Plan that is a Deepening of NEEDS to NEEDS 2, that is essentially a Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) that is a Living Strategy taking shape as it is put into practice and that this Living Strategy encompasses a Communication Strategy that is aimed at building an accurate and up to date understanding of the Business of Business as the Primary Focus of the Private Sector - Micro Enterprises, Small and Medium Enterprises, Large Enterprises and Multinationals and the Business of Governance as the Primary Focus of Governments at Federal, 36 States, FCT and 774 LG levels in Nigeria as well as meaningfully involving all Community to Global Stakeholders in the Nigerian Economy in the Great Task of Building National and International Consensus to achieve National Goals and Global Goals, without which the Principles of Business of Business and Business of Governance cannot be successfully implemented and evaluated in Practice in specific Community to Global context in Nigeria and on successful and sustainable basis.

These discussions within the CPS that is a Joint National Development Cooperation and International Development Cooperation Initiative, that is a Global Goals Action Agenda aligned and harmonized with Community Development Plans for each Community, LG Development Plans for each of the 774 LGAs, State Development Plans for each of the 36 States and FCT and National Development Plan Communication Strategy will continue so that Key Actors in all relevant Community to Global Stakeholder Groups are aware of Results on the ground as well as challenges and ways each National and International Partner is meeting its obligations and responsibilities within the CPS.

Repositioning the Nigeria Agriculture Revolution Policies, Programs and Projects

The past and current Governments at Federal and States levels have undertaken over the years several Agriculture Revolution Policies, Programs and Projects, yet these Policies, Programs and Projects have not contributed significantly towards ending hunger and poverty in our Country.

If we do not know why past and current Agriculture Revolution Policies, Programs and Projects had flaws and failures, we will not know how to design and deliver new Agriculture Revolution Policies, Programs and Projects that will succeed on sustainable basis in the work towards ending hunger and poverty in Nigeria.

This underlines the urgent need to Reposition the Nigeria Agriculture Revolution Policies, Programs and Projects to deliver the type of democracy dividends Nigerians desire and deserve. The Nigeria Agriculture Sector has the potential to help end hunger and poverty in Nigeria as well as create meaningful on farm and off farm employment.

A Repositioned Nigeria Agriculture Revolution Policies, Programs and Projects in each Community in each of 774 LGs in each of 36 States and FCT, National and International levels will address Agriculture: Crops, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture – Pre Harvest, Harvest and Post Harvest real and complex problems on the ground from Community to Global levels. This calls for National and International Agriculture Value Chain Development that works as well as National and International Division of Labour.

It is pertinent to note that Climate Change has made Agriculture more challenging. Without modern knowledge, it will be especially difficult for Family Farmers to establish profitable farms that can sustain them and their families.
It is pertinent to note further that there is a level of Research in Crops but this is below minimum International levels and that the level of Research in remaining Agriculture Sectors – Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture is significantly lower than the Research in Crops and this highlight the magnitude of the Agriculture Research that needs to be done if Nigeria is to optimize its Agriculture Production, Processing, Packaging, Storage, Marketing and Transportation Potential. Agriculture Research in the new dispensation should focus on significantly improving family farmers yield and profit; significantly reducing post harvest losses; significantly ending hidden hunger that is improving nutrition value and therapy value of Nigerian food and functional food; significantly improving the Agro Allied and Agro Processing Sectors in Nigeria; significantly improving quality of indigenous plants and animals and related products and bye products to world class standards etc.

The Nutrition Potential of Food and Agriculture is being better appreciated in North Countries through Functional Foods that have significant Therapy Value. A situation where there is Linked Food, Agriculture, Nutrition, Health, Wellbeing and Lifestyle Policies, Programs and Projects in each Community in each of 774 LGs, each of 36 States and FCT and National levels in Nigeria will contribute significantly towards the sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s National Economy problems.

There is no reason why Biogas from Agriculture Waste cannot be used to generate electricity to power the Modern Farms and Agro Allied Enterprises operating within Community Integrated Farm Estates, CIFE. There is no reason why the huge Post Harvest Losses cannot be significantly reduced and there is no reason why Agriculture Wastes cannot be turned into Agriculture Wealth. To achieving these huge Agriculture Revolution Potentials from Community to Global levels calls for Focused Community to Global Collective Actions including - Attitudinal and Behavioural Change; Innovation and Creativity; Applied Research; Applied History; Restoring Lost Glory of Agriculture Cooperatives and Improving Agriculture Investments through Community Development Limited Liability Companies etc.

Repositioning the entire National Reform Program

The Agriculture Revolution is a Primary Revolution that needs to be designed and delivered alongside other Primary Revolutions – Government Revolution, Enterprise Revolution, Attitudinal and Behavioural Change Revolution, Applied Research Revolution, Applied History Revolution, Data Revolution, Digital Revolution and Secondary Revolutions – Education Revolution, Health Revolution, Water Revolution, Justice Revolution, Anti Corruption Revolution etc within a National Development Initiative that is a National Reform Program powered by the entire Budget of all tiers of Government and entire Country Partnership Strategy Budget of International Partners.






Repositioning the Public Service and Civil Service

The Public Service and Civil Service is the Engine of the National Economy. It is the Public Service and Civil Service that determine the success or otherwise of the Primary Revolutions and Secondary Revolutions.

It is the elected Politicians, appointed Politicians, Leadership of the Public Service and Civil Service that Mobilize Political Will for Driving Implementation and Evaluation of the Primary Revolutions and Secondary Revolutions in their Constituency / Duty Area.

Repositioning the Traditional Institutions

The Traditional Rulers are the Royal Fathers in their Domain. It is Traditional Rulers genuinely committed to Developing their Communities that can mobilize Public Will for Driving Implementation and Evaluation of the Primary Revolutions and Secondary Revolutions in their Domain.

There is a need to strengthen our Traditional Rulers to deploy their Influence to deploy Agriculture Revolution and complementary Primary and Secondary Revolutions in ways that help end hunger and poverty in their Domain.

Comprehensive Approach

The operation in practice of the ideas and suggestions set out in this Paper greatly depends on Comprehensive or Common and Systemic Approach towards addressing all Human Resources Development, HRD and Non HRD Components of each Primary Revolution and Secondary Revolution.

There is a Need for Elected Politicians (President / Governors), Appointed Politicians, Senior Civil Servants and Senior Public Servants to serve as Co Chief Champions of the Comprehensive Approach. Also, there is a need for Traditional Rulers (1st – 4th Class), Tribal Leaders and Community Leaders to serve as Co Chief Champions of the Comprehensive Approach.

Reinvigorating Nigeria Agriculture Revolution as Key Driver of Nigeria Rescue Mission that Work

Given the myriad problems Nigeria faces, do we need to convey the story of the human ecosystem in hundreds of different flavours in order to inspire and engage large numbers of individuals toward positive change? Can the Nigerian Economy be revamped without a Nigeria Agriculture Revolution that Works? Can such Agriculture Revolution be designed and delivered in each Community in each of 774 LGAs, each of 36 States and FCT in Nigeria without finding sustainable solutions to Fulani Herdsmen, Funding, Agriculture Production Extension Services, Agriculture Processing Extension Services, Commodities Marketing, Storage, Distribution, Packaging, 419, Corruption, Climate Change, Environment, Technology, Innovation, Science, Economics, Psychology, Attitude, Behaviour and related problems on the ground from Community to Global levels as applicable to specific location - Community to National as well as International level in Nigeria?

Nigeria has been great before, but it was under a different era, different culture, and different physical backdrop. Today with a population of over 170 million, most people are miserable and just hanging on. There will be some Nigerians who will blame past Military and or Civilian Presidents, Boko Haram, Niger Delta Militants, Bankers, Accountants, Lawyers, Police, DSS etc. There will be those that would say President Buhari is too slow. They are wrong. That’s what humans do – when our circumstances are worse than the recent past, we look to put the blame on others. But we need to remember that when we point one accusing finger at others, the remaining four fingers are pointing back at us.

If we do sober reflection, we will discover a basic truth: we are all quite similar in caring about the things that matter –our children, safety of our neighbourhoods, clean air to breathe and water to drink, and meaningful education and vocation etc. Instead, we tend to focus on how we are different than the other. We get fired up about our superiority and better ideas.

We are –pretty much all of us – angry, frustrated, and scared about the future, but deep down we are also able to work hard, sacrifice, help each other and be the good people that Nigerians can be at home and abroad. But in our blaming of others we miss the real reasons for our malaise, and thus are pursuing the wrong pathways if we are to ‘make Nigeria great again’ and if the Buhari Administration is to design and deliver Nigeria Rescue Mission that Work.

Let’s be honest. The phrase ‘the Nigeria Factor’ has seeped into our psyche. We are a special people – driven, ambitious, hardworking, creative, etc, for example, take Nigeria Medical Personnel out of the UK Health System - it will collapse, out of the US Health System - it will feel the strain.

Nigeria Police go to UN Peace Missions and Excel but at home we find it especially hard to accept that Police is your Friend. Why do we undermine ourselves, and why are we unable to break out of the viscous circle of being too rich to be poor and too poor to be rich?

Most Nigerians deny or downplay the negative impact of Nigeria Factor, because it requires difficult choices, bold thinking, sacrifice, innovation and creativity to break this viscous circle. Can we rally around these required traits, or instead continue to be led by fear, apathy, arrogance, impunity and ignorance? For, our fellow compatriots and citizens of this great nation, that is what it comes down to. We face unprecedented national and global challenges, to growth, to safety, to health, to our environment, to our children and to our future. Instead of leading by example, sharing, caring, going the extra mile to help our neighbour, and tightening our belts, we have become complacent, surly, and occasionally or increasingly violent.

Expecting that if only the “other people” will change their way, attitude and behaviour and that things will on its own get back to the way they were in Nigeria’s Golden Age – a time when Nigeria Civil Service and Public Service was among the Best in the Commonwealth and indeed the World; when Good Name was better than Money and Riches and when Hard Work and Integrity was much Valued. We have news for our friends and fellow compatriots who are alive in our Country at this wondrous and perilous time. There’s an intermediate step that we could take to make Nigeria great again. We first have to Make Nigeria Good and Human Centred Design in New Agricultural Revolution is the Master Key. However, any attempt to Design and Deliver New Agricultural Revolution in Nigeria that is not underlined by sustainable solutions to Fulani Herdsmen Menace is Deception, Denial, Delusion or Mischief.

Real change in the next three years to 2020 will not come from President Buhari alone, but from a new outlook, new ethic and new strength of our citizenry in each Community, in each LGA, in each State and FCT in Nigeria. We cannot see this clearly, yet our gut and heart tells us this is so.

Moving forward, there is urgent need to move from talking and thinking to action and accomplishment and to demonstrate this in ways that continuously improve collaboration, cooperation, cohesion and coordination of Stakeholders in 12 Blocks
1.      Governments: Executive, Parliament and Judiciary at 774 LGAs, 36 States and FCT and National levels – Elected Politicians, Appointed Politicians, Senior Civil Servants and Senior Public Servants;
2.      International Institutions: United Nations Organization, World Bank Group and IMF; other International Institutions, International Donors and International Foundations;
3.      Traditional Institutions – Traditional Rulers, Tribal Leaders, Community Leaders
4.      Religious Institutions – Leaders on Christian, Muslim, Traditional sides
5.      National and International CSOs and NGOs
6.      Internal and External Consultants
7.      Communication Strategy Experts
8.      Attitudinal and Behavioural Change Experts
9.      Micro, SME and TNC Enterprises Experts
10. Universities and Tertiary Institutions Experts
11. Banks and other Financial Institutions Experts
12.  Media Institutions – Television, Radio, Newspapers, Online - Experts

These 12 Stakeholder Blocks working together towards the full implementation with effective monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of Policy, Program Projects 3PIs and 3PIs Training as One Interventions within 2030 Agenda – Addis Ababa Action Agenda -AAAA, Sustainable Development Goals – SDG, Climate Change - COP21, Agenda 21 aligned and harmonized with Community Development Plans, Local Government Development Plans, State Development Plans, FCT Development Plan and Nigeria National Development Plan with New Agriculture Revolution Pilot Program in 5 States – Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Edo and Kogi in 3 Geopolitical Zones Kick Starting this new approach through funding provided by Bank of Agriculture – N1 Billion per Senatorial District for Agricultural Production matched by Central Bank of Nigeria – N2 Billion and Bank of Industry – N1 Billion per Senatorial District for Agricultural Processing matched by Central Bank of Nigeria – N2 Billion released through NEHAP Agriculture Cooperatives under Business Model involving Management, Investment and Investors with Small Holder Farmers and Small Holder Agro Processors pledging their Honesty as Collateral within FGN through Presidency Overall Guarantee and in ways that meaningfully empower Farmers, Processors, Researchers, Agricultural Production Extension Officers – Public / Private; Agricultural Processing Extension Officers – Public / Private.

The Pilot Program Designed to meaningfully empower Small Farmers / Processors will be Scaled Up to all remaining States and FCT in the initial 3 Geopolitical Zones and subsequently all States in all remaining Geopolitical Zones in Nigeria.

The points made in this Paper need to be taken together with points made in Mr. Rotimi’s Statement of 30 May 2016 delivered at the Ondo State NUJ Democracy Day Lecture as well as 16 March 2016 letter to President Buhari through the DG DSS and through Ondo State Director DSS.

In Developed Countries there are interesting things happening in Linked Agriculture, Food, Nutrition, Commerce, Medicine, Health, Lifestyle and Wellness that the Buhari Administration can key into towards find sustainable solutions to Agriculture Revolution problems which in turn help find sustainable solutions to real and complex Political, Cultural, Economic, Financial, Social, Environmental, Peace, Security, Religious, Moral, Legal and Technical problems on the ground from Community to Global levels challenging Nigerians especially the over 120 million Poor Children, Youth, Women, Men and Elders.

UN System: UNO, WBG, IMF Delivery as One, DaO

The UNO is the Global Platform for catalyzing Global Collective Action for Political Stability; The WBG is the Global Platform for catalyzing Global Collective Action for Economic Stability and the IMF is the Global Platform for catalyzing Global Collective Action for Financial Stability. These 3 Entities make up the UN System. A situation where UNO is referred to as UN System is unhelpful. A situation where UN System Delivery as One, DaO refers to UNO Delivery as One, is even more unhelpful.

There is a need to find out what worked and what did not work in UNO DaO since 2006 to 2016 and learn lessons in the Design and Delivery of UN System: UNO, WBG, IMF DaO that Work. Any Re-engineering of the UN System: UNO, WBG, IMF that does not have UN System: UNO, WBG, IMF DaO as Main Pillar is Motion without Movement and Motion without Meaning. It is pertinent to note that UN Member States are looking up to UN System: UNO, WBG, IMF for help but these UN System Entities themselves need help before that can in turn can help UN Member States in both North and South.

Public Will and Political Will – PoW-PbW

Dealing effectively with Political, Cultural, Economic, Financial, Social, Environmental, Peace, Security, Religion, Moral, Legal, Technical Problems at each specific Community to Global level requires minimum certain levels of Collective Action and Coordinated Commitment in specific location or context. This underlines urgent need to Reform the UN System: UNO, WBG, IMF to be Institutions Fit for the 21st Century.
It is pertinent to note that Persons most affected by Political, Cultural, Economic, Financial, Social, Environmental, Peace, Security, Religion, Moral, Legal and Technical problems typically constitute weak or powerless constituencies that lack real representation in the Halls of Power.

Consequently, coalitions of stakeholders must make firm commitments if conditions are to improve for the disenfranchised. Helping these immobilized and resource-deprived groups in both North and South Countries often entails short-run tradeoffs and sacrifices for others in a society, even when social interdependence dictates that sustainable long-run solutions are ‘win-win’ for most or all. Without strong mutual accountability mechanisms, stepping back from the social and policy changes necessary to address these complex issues is simply too easy and too tempting and this explains why these fundamental issues have remained unaddressed and for so long.

Long-term, effective change in complex issue areas typically happens only if the government and key public stakeholders are pushing in the same direction. Political action to address cultural, economic, financial, social, environmental, peace, security, religion, moral, legal and technical problems and their deleterious outcomes is not enough to effect large-scale change if opposed or undermined by the public. Efforts originating with the government often coincide with laws that demand change, but not all citizens feel compelled to obey. Similarly, social change efforts driven by nongovernmental entities will flounder if government opposes or refuses to reinforce the change. To achieve success in the fight against adverse outcomes of political, cultural, economic, financial, social, environmental, peace, security, religion, moral, legal and technical problems, the government and large segments of the public must be willing to recognize the root cause or primary cause problem, understand the root cause or primary cause problem in a similar way, and agree on sustainable solutions.

There is a need to meaningfully address both Political Will and Public Will (PoW-PbW) if adequate Political Action Driving Social Change at minimum certain levels required to find, fully implement with effective monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of sustainable solutions to political, cultural, economic, financial social, environment, peace, security, religion, moral, legal, technical root cause or primary cause problems on the ground from Community to Global levels in each UN Member State are to be found.

The PoW-PbW calls for systematic assessment of both political will and public will and maps directly to specific tools/ instruments within One Worldwide Approach – 3PCM.
·        Political will exists when “a sufficient set of decision makers with a common understanding of a particular problem on the formal agenda is committed to supporting a commonly perceived, potentially effective policy solution.” The Central Actors in Political Will are Elected Politicians, Appointed Politicians, Senior Civil Servants and Senior Public Servants.
·        Public will exists when “a social system has a shared recognition of a particular problem and resolves to address the situation in a particular way through sustained collective action at each level Community to Global. The Central Actors in Public Will are Traditional Rulers; Tribal Leaders; Religious Leaders; Leaders of Academic Institutions, Media Institutions, Labor Unions, Trade Groups, Student Groups; Leaders of Community Development Associations, Professional Associations. 

The PoW-PbW Instrument/Tool within 3PCM holistic approach or One Worldwide Common and Systemic Approach involves collecting various forms of information before choosing the appropriate tactics and techniques for generating political will and public will and for promoting mutual accountability. 3PCM is not a one-size-fits-all Approach.

The PoW-PbW Instrument/Tool emphasizes the importance of broad groups of stakeholders agreeing upon aligned root cause problem or primary cause and sustainable solution definitions within specific 2030 Agenda Sector, Service, Issue or Goal, Target, Indicator such as gender based violence, food security, climate change, and poverty etc.

The assessment procedures treat local context and local knowledge as instrumental in achieving effective long-term change. Interpretation of political, cultural, economic, financial, social, environmental, peace, security, religion, moral, legal, technical root cause problems or primary cause problems can differ across different Community to Regional contexts, and one-size- fits-all “solutions” often fail to meet the specific 2030 Agenda – AAAA, SDG, COP21 goals and targets of all Communities in all UN Member States.

Through the application of observation-based analysis, the PoW-PbW assessment procedures identify whether the primary shortcoming in the specific Community, Country, Region in the specific 2030 Agenda: AAAA, SDG, COP21 Goal, Target, Indicator is in the area of political will, public will, or both. All this information then informs the choice of tactics for unifying understanding and for holding stakeholders mutually accountable. Parts of the process repeat as necessary.
Establishing Ekiti State NEHAP MCSL, MCUL, MCBCSL
(New End Hunger and Poverty, NEHAP Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, MCSL – Primary Society; Multipurpose Cooperative Union Limited – Secondary Society; Multipurpose Cooperative Banking and Central Society Limited – Central/Tertiary Society)

Introduction

America claim to be God’s Own Country. Our Study finding is that in reality Nigeria is the Original God’s Own Country. We are far more blessed with Human and Natural Resources than America and we have less Natural Hazards and Natural Disasters than the US.

Should Nigeria Health Professionals be taken away from the UK Health System, it will collapse. Should Nigeria Health Professionals be taken away from the US Health System, there will be Severe Strain. Nigeria Police go on International Missions and Excel. Given these FACTS - Why is it the case that Nigeria Health System is not among the Best in Africa and the World? Why is it the case that Nigeria Police is not among the Best Police Force in Africa and the World? Is the fault in us or our stars or both? Are the problems insoluble?

There is no Community in each of the 774 Local Governments in Nigeria that does not have fertile soil for Agriculture. This suggests that Nigeria can indeed feed all her Citizens, achieve Food Security and Nutrition Security and also Export Food. There is no reason why any Nigerian Citizen should be Hungry or Poor. There is no reason why the viscous circle of Nigeria being Too Rich to be Poor and Too Poor to be Rich cannot be broken.  There is no reason why Nigeria cannot End Hunger and Poverty in each Community in each of 774 LGAs’ in each of 36 States and FCT by 2027 and 2030 respectively.

Yes, there are hydra headed and complex problems in Agriculture in Nigeria. But in our ongoing consultative research and diagnostic studies driving constructive engagement of relevant Federal and State Government Senior Agriculture Officials, we are consistently told that the Nigeria Agriculture complex problems are not insoluble.

The former Jonathan Administration Agriculture Transformation Agenda, ATA aimed at uplifting Agriculture from subsistence to commercial levels through modernization of the entire Agriculture Value Chain, AVC. The intention of that government was to transform Nigeria from a net importer of staple food into a global agriculture powerhouse. However the AVC Concept was not well understood by concerned ATA Stakeholders.

To achieve the ATA Vision, the then government sought to tackle fundamental issues of: high costs of inputs like cost of credit; imported equipment; agrochemicals; policy instability that make decision making and planning highly uncertain and put investments at risk; low technology base that is low mechanization; decaying infrastructure; weak institutions such as poorly funded Research Institutes focused on all aspects of agriculture – pre harvest, harvest and post harvest development research; poorly funded public / private agriculture production extension system; poorly funded public / private  agriculture processing extension system; poorly funded seeds certification system; low public and private sectors investments in agriculture – crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries programs and projects.

We sent a letter in June 2014 to the Ondo State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FMARD in which we sought collaboration on ways and means of improving on the Giant Strides made by the Agric Transformation Agenda. It was at a meeting with the FMARD Ondo State Director that we agreed to first carry out Research to find out the real and complex problems and challenges on the ground facing each of the Stakeholder Groups in Agric Transformation Agenda and coming up with practical solutions.

The meeting with a Senior Official of the Ibadan Regional Office, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in April 2015 concluded this Phase of the Consultative Research and Diagnostic Studies.

Since Governance is a continuum, we expected the Buhari Administration to adopt or adapt relevant aspects of Jonathan Administration ATA and in ways that ensure it delivers on its electoral promises, especially Feeding Nigerians. In line with this the current Government in August 2016 came up with Agriculture Promotion Policy, APP. However the APP does not have Implementation and Evaluation Framework. The Results is that 5 months later, APP is still essentially on Paper only. This explains why in February 2017 the Ag President Yemi Osinbajo has to set up a Federal Task Force on Food Security that is saddled with responsibility for coming up with solution to increasing prices of Food Items Nationwide. Please find attached copy Press Release in which we set out pertinent ideas and useful suggestions for consideration of the Task Force in National Interest.

Our Akure Radio Public Enlightenment and Awareness Programs: Enterprise Zone on Adaba 88.9 FM every Tuesday 3.30 – 4.00 pm for 22 months – May 2013 – March 2015 and NEHAP Agriculture Revolution on Radio Nigeria Positive FM 102.5 every Friday 3.30 – 4.00 pm for 9 months – January 2015 – September 2015 have sensitised listeners on the need to contribute positively towards Restoring the Lost Glory of Cooperatives; as one of the Master Keys for ending Hunger and Poverty in Nigeria. We stopped the Programs because our People were more interested in its Entertainment Value than its Sensitization Value.  

The Radio Programs ran for 40 months – May 2013 – September 2015, a significant Investment in Funding and Intellect. Each Promoted Spirit of Enterprise as Antidote to Poverty; Gave Advice to Reawaken the Agriculture Cooperatives as Viable Vehicle for Strengthening SMEs’ and Encouraged the Unemployed, particularly the Youth (Graduates) and Women (Gender) to be Self Reliant through Organized Communities; using blend of English and Yourba in the presentation. The Radio Programs were highly rated by the Management of each of the two Radio Stations.

The Public Awareness reached a level where there was need to move from Vision and Words to Vision and Words with Action, hence the need to establish NEHAP MCSL in each Community in each Local Government, in each of the 36 States and FCT and at National and International levels in Nigeria, started from Ondo State where we are based. However, due to Fulani Menace and Funding Challenges the established Cooperatives – 4 MCSL and 1 MCUL are yet to take off and attempt to establish MCBCSL put on hold. MCBCSL with Technical Support from German Experts could do wonders in Nigeria given the fact that Germany has the most advance Agric Cooperatives Financing System in our World today.

We have come to Ekiti State where many Listeners passionately invited us to come to support them with a view to Galvanizing Traditional Rulers genuinely willing to support Agriculture Revolution to develop their domain; Practical and Prosperous Farmers who are Givers; Philanthropists willing to Give in support of Rural and Urban Smart Agriculture; Statesmen and Philanthropists willing to meaningfully support Nigeria Rescue Mission Driven by Agriculture Revolution that Works to join us in transforming Vision to Reality.

Highlights of Research Findings

This Research Idea started from consultation with Ondo State Director, FMARD. We obtained letter from Permanent Secretary Ondo State Ministry of Agric to talk to Ondo State Stakeholders. We had consultations with Ondo State CBN Branch Office.

The meeting with Ondo State Agric Input Supply Agency management identified issues of Government Coordination and Grant Abuse. Consultation with other Stakeholders suggested that where Government Coordination is weak; Community Coordination could be an alternative and that Genuine Farmers need Encouragement and Empowerment that ensure Grants become revolving fund instead of what we have now that is share of Shrinking National Cake and therefore not sustainable.

The meeting with Ondo State ADP management identified issues: Restoring Lost Glory of Extension Services and achieving Corruption Free Society.

The meeting with Farmer Groups identified issues of weak farmer associations; financial and economic viability; agric research tailored to small holder farmer needs.

The meeting with CBN Development Finance Office, Ondo State Branch identified issues of lack of collateral to access government development finance.

Our Radio audience participation identified issues of small holder farmers: lack of collateral to access development finance; restoring lost glory of Cooperatives; addressing physical security, access to funding; access to land; access to training; gender and youth challenges; manpower challenges; trust challenges; access to agric mechanization and modernization; access to domestic and international markets; flaws, shortcomings and inadequacies in markets; correct and current data; empowerment and development, 419 in Agriculture etc.

All of these problems could be categorized into 6 – Land, Water, Manpower, Market / Price, 419 in Agriculture and Funding. The Design and Delivery of NEHAP MCSL, MCUL and MCBCSL is to help solve these real and complex problems on the ground and in ways that help achieve End Hunger and Poverty in Nigeria Vision on successful and sustainable basis and in record time.

Reviewing Agric Transformation Agenda (ATA)

ATA was intended to cover the full range of Agriculture Value Chain Processes for Tree Crops; other Crops; Livestock and Fisheries. Our Study Finding is that there is a need to Reinforce Research, Implementation, Evaluation and Success of Improved and Restructured ATA through the Buhari Administration’s APP, if increasing convergence between Original ATA Intention and Reality is to be achieved on successful and sustainable basis. This DEMANDS Intellectual Rigor as well as New Partnership Arrangements with Technical Advisory Services Support encompassing all Stakeholders on Communities, Governments (Federal, 36 States, FCT and 774 LGAs’), Financiers, Banks, Scientists, Consultants, Tertiary Institutions and International Institutions sides. Our September 2016 Proposal in this regard has been welcomed by HMFMARD in October 2016 but Mandate is yet to be given and so the APP since August 2016 remain potential.

From the two Radio Programs numerous responses and enquiries from 5 neighbouring States to participate in Agriculture Revolution Linked with Enterprise Revolution; Government Revolution; Applied Research Revolution; Attitudinal and Behavioural Change Revolution, Data Revolution, Digital Revolution and other Primary Revolutions as well as Food Security Revolution, Nutrition Security Revolution, Health Revolution, Education Revolution and other Secondary Revolutions, we are led to suggest the need for the Buhari Administration to consider adopting or adapting ATA through the APP to seek above Partnership through New Stakeholders Partnership Arrangement within:-
1.      Improved Seeds and Input Supply to Genuine Farmers
2.      Agriculture Production Extension Services and Agriculture Processing Extension Services Reinforced by Farmers Training School, Farmers Filed School, Processors Training School and Processors Field School Operated by EAG.
3.      Agriculture Produce Distribution – Marketing and Transportation, Storage, Packaging and Processing Coordinated by EAG
4.      All Aspects of Crop Farming and Livestock Farming
5.      All Aspects of Forestry Farming and Fisheries  and Aquaculture Farming
6.      APP Effectively Linked to End Hunger and Poverty in Nigeria
7.      Strengthened Research, Implementation, Evaluation and Success Framework for APP
8.      Reinvigorated Agriculture Cooperatives for Producers, Processors and Traders dealing in each Agriculture Commodity relevant to ending Hunger and Poverty.

Our Study Finding indicates that some of the Subsidy in ATA was going into wrong hands unintentionally; that many genuine Small Holder Farmers do not have the Financial Capacity to Access the Subsidy and that these two problems are Best Tackled within APP through Restoring the Lost Glory of Cooperatives, Lost Glory of Production Extension, establishing Processing Extension underpinned by appropriate Professional Services Support to each APP Stakeholder Group from Community to Global levels.


The time for a holistic approach towards the sustainable solution to unique and specific problems and challenges facing each Stakeholders Group in the Nigeria Agriculture Value Chain is now. It is clear that for the Nigeria Agriculture Value Chain to be fully developed for each Agriculture Commodity there must be improved Cooperation and Integration of all Agriculture Agencies, Parastatals and Ministries at Federal, 36 States, FCT and 774 Local Government Levels, Farmers Organizations, Farm Service Providers, Banks, Financiers, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, all Agriculture Research Institutions, all Tertiary Institutions with Agriculture / Agriculture Extension (Rural Sociology) Faculties / Departments on one hand and all remaining Non Agriculture  Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government at Federal, 36 States and FCT and 774 Local Governments, all remaining Faculties / Departments of all Tertiary Institutions on the other hand.

This requires Central Coordination, Control and Regulation by Government. The support Governments at all levels need to achieve minimum required levels of Central Coordination, Control and Regulation is available. However while we wait for Government to move in this direction, nothing stops the Private Sector from setting the ball rolling, through starting such Central Coordination within Cooperatives Regulatory Mechanism.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
Encouraging and Empowering Small Holder (Family) Farmers

It is an irony that the small holder (family) farmer who produces food is hungry. It is sad that in this 21st Century Nigeria Universities and Tertiary Institutions are still teaching Students with Cutlass and Hoe!!! As long as this remains the case, it will be uphill task attracting Youth and Women to participate meaningfully in Agricultural Revolution. The time for the Inventors and Researchers to work in cooperation and collaboration with Agric Extension Officers, Rural Sociology Officers and Enlightened Farmers to accelerate Agriculture Revolution in Nigeria as antidote to Hunger and Poverty is NOW.

It will be recalled that America did not get to where it is today in Feeding Americans and People in other Countries without passing through similar path. For example, Agricultural Changes that occurred in America during the 20th Century: 1900 – 2000 include:-
1.      From Horse to Tractor: 10 Horsepower to over 400 Horsepower
2.      From Hoe to Herbicide
3.      From Husking Hook to Combine Harvester
4.      From One Room Rural School to the Consolidated School
5.      From Educational Depravation to the Land Grant College System
6.      From the ravages of Hookworm to Health Rural Children
7.      From Mud Roads to Paved Highways
8.      From Rural Free Delivery to World Wide Web – Internet
9.      From Exploitation of Natural resources towards Greater Conservation
10. From Labour Intensive to Capital Intensive Operation
11. From Traditional Family Farm to Modern Business Institution

If we are serious about feeding Nigerians, can we achieve Dream of Zero Hunger and Poverty Elimination without Re-establishing the Nigeria Agricultural Production Extension Service and Agricultural Processing Extension Service? What is the Role of Rural Sociology in the Re-established Nigeria Agricultural Production Extension Service and Agricultural Processing Extension Service? This is because: Rural Sociology is a field of Sociology traditionally associated with the study of Social Structure and Conflict in Rural Areas.

What is the Role of Agricultural Engineers in the APP? This is because: Agricultural Engineering is the field of Engineering saddled with the responsibility for Modernizing and Mechanizing Agriculture – Pre Harvest, Harvest and Post Harvest levels. These and related Professionals need to better support the small holder farmer in Nigeria.

We have what it takes to feed our People and People in other Countries. Agricultural Engineering; Agricultural Production Extension; Agricultural Processing Extension; Rural Sociology (Agriculture Sociology or other New Name adopted) and other Agriculture and Non Agriculture Experts all have Key Role to Play if we are to achieve Goals of Zero Hunger and Poverty Elimination and related Goals and in Record time in Nigeria.

There is also a need for the Professional Association in these Disciplines to go beyond organizing annual conferences for promotion of their members; to more properly identify each Professional Association relevance to 21st Century Agriculture and Sustainable Development in Nigeria. Each Professional Association also needs take a critical look at its Structure at 6 Geo Political Zones, 36 States and FCT levels and Universities / Tertiary Institutions with relevant Faculty or Department Host Communities, that is come up with Local Chapters / Districts that put each Professional Association Members closer to the farmers in each Tertiary Institution Host Community in each of the 774 LGAs’ in Nigeria.



Agriculture Sustainable Solutions

The Agriculture Revolution Zero Hunger Project Overall Strategic Objective is Agriculture Sustainable Solutions at all Sub-national, National in Nigeria, as well as Agriculture Sustainable Solutions at Sub-regional, Regional and Global levels that are strategic and relevant to Nigeria.

The Zero Hunger Project intention of Agriculture Sustainable Solutions is a Set of Cohesive Policy, Program, Project Interventions:-
1.      To make visible, and lift-up exceptional innovators -- technologists, engineers, scientists, and others -- who are developing solutions that address one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs relevant to Agriculture and
2.      To catalyze a grassroots effort, where communities scout and convene resources around solution-makers. And intended its Expected Outcome to include:-

The Zero Hunger Project will create a robust Platform for Agriculture innovators to outlining their breakthrough efforts to a juxtaposed audience of senior policymakers who have the means to pave solid regulatory foundations, investors who care deeply about long-term change and impact, and industry leaders who are able to deploy quickly and at scale. The Platform will serve as a catalyst for a longer-term, locally-led and globally-supported effort to activate the world’s most forward thinking technologists, scientists, & engineers and to convene the resources and talent to apply their work in addressing the domestication of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in each Community in each Local Government in each of the 36 States, FCT and National levels in Nigeria.


NEHAP: CIFE, CDCL, Multipurpose Cooperative Societies etc - History

Our work on CIFE (Community Integrated Farm Estate); CDCL (Community Development Company Limited) and NEHAP (New End Hunger and Poverty) Pilot Program in 18 LGAs’ in Ondo State, designed to find out the real problems on the ground facing the Federal Agriculture Transformation Agenda Program, the World Bank FADAMA Program, the Ondo State Agriculture Programs and other Agriculture Programs in Ondo State, as basis for the Design of Sustainable Solutions as well as the Implementation and Monitoring and Evaluation of the Implementation of the Solutions, continue to make slow but steady progress. CDCL is designed to be Major Investor in the Share Capital of Multipurpose Cooperatives: Primary, Secondary and Central / Tertiary Societies.


Our most important finding at present is that should there be renewed commitment on the part of all relevant stakeholders to jointly tackle all identified shortcomings, drawbacks and hindrances that have emerged since implementation and evaluation of Federal APP and State Agriculture Programs and other Agriculture Programs e.g. World Bank FADAMA, the Goals of Zero Hunger and Poverty Elimination can be achieved in Nigeria by 2030.

We can benchmark Best Practices in Ondo State Pilot Program as basis for Phased expansion of the NEHAP Initiative - CIFE, CDCL, MCSL, MCUL, MCBCSL in remaining States under the Ibadan Regional Office – starting from Ekiti State; then to other States and FCT in Nigeria, as practical option for End Hunger and Poverty in Nigeria and in record time.

To make the paradigm shifts necessary to tackle identified real and complex Agriculture, Non Agriculture, Security, Non Security problems on the ground on successful and sustainable basis, Community Leadership; LGs, State and Federal Governments; International Institutions / Community; Academic Community; Media Community and their Sub-national, National and International Development Cooperation Partners need:-
1.      Better established Incentive Structures for each Stakeholder Group
2.      Effective removal of all Administrative Barriers to more flexible Joint Country Programming Frameworks
3.      Effective solutions to all Staffing Issues: Competencies Sets – Hard Competencies: Learning and Skills and Soft Competencies: Character, Courage, Discipline and Mindset
4.      Adequate provision of Resources: Influence, Science, Technology, Innovation, Fund, Manpower, Spiritual.
5.      Meet Appetite: Interest – Political, Economic, Social, Cultural etc
6.      Manoeuvres amidst Constraints: identify where is the room for manoeuvre or how it can be created to make support of National and International Development Cooperation Reform, possible


The fundamental issues highlighted thus far are best tackled within Local Action (Community, Local Governments and State Governments) and National Action within Country that are Integrated and Connected with International Regional Action (West Africa, West and Central Africa, Sub-Sahara Africa and Africa) and Global Action (Commonwealth and World); that is within National and Global Collective Action and these call for:-
1.      Common Agricultural Engineering Professionals Position
2.      Common Agriculture Extension Professionals Position
3.      Common Rural Sociology (Agricultural Sociology) Professionals Position
4.      Common Agriculture Professionals Position
5.      Common Agriculture Stakeholders Position
6.      Common Nigeria / Africa / World Sustainable Development Position

The Positions articulated in (1) – (8) should help to Organize, Orientate and Discipline all relevant Sub-national, National and International Development Cooperation Stakeholders to be the MOVING FORCE Driving the Transformation of Society in Nigeria, Africa and Worldwide and these call for:-
1.      Government – Political Leaders and Senior Civil Servants: Political Commitment; Government Coordination and Government Regulation.
2.      Professionals - Scientists, Designers, Generalist Subject Matter Experts and Specialist Subject Matter Experts: Innovation Solutions, Technology Solutions and Science Solutions
3.      Farmers – Rural Peoples Organizations, Commodity Trade Groups, Agriculture Value Chains: Learning, Self Regulation and Partnership
4.      Citizens – Individual Consumers, Commercial Consumers, Industrial Consumers: Patronage, Collective Action and Common Interest
5.      Consultants – Technical Advisers, Support Providers, Reform Advisers: Language, Approach and Framework

Lanre Rotimi Created New End Hunger and Poverty, NEHAP Initiative in 2014.

NEHAP: CIFE, CDCL, Multipurpose Cooperative Societies etc – Structure

NEHAP deploys Policy, Program, Project Cycle Management; 3PCM Sustainable Benefits Approach to National Development Cooperation, on 7 Pillars to Support Village to Global Stakeholders in the work towards achieving increasing convergence between revised and domesticated AAAA and SDG Vision Intention and Reality.

The 7 Pillars are:-
1.      Estates – Community Integrated Farm Estate - CIFE
a)      Farm Estate
b)     Industrial Estate
c)      Commercial Estate
d)     Engineering Estate
e)      Residential Estate
f)       Commodity Exchange
all Powered 24/7 by Biogas Generators, using Sewage and Agricultural Waste.
2.      Solutions – Sustainable Agriculture Solutions Association – SASA
a)      Promoting Spirit of Agricultural Enterprise
b)     Generating Practical Solutions to Real Agric : Crops, Livestock, Livestock and Fisheries : Pre Harvest, Harvest and Post Harvest problems on the ground
c)      Mobilizing National and International Collective Action for Agricultural Stability in each Community.
3.      Funding – Agriculture Revolution Investment Fund - ARIF
a)      NEHAP Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited
b)     NEHAP Multipurpose Cooperative Union Limited
c)      NEHAP Multipurpose Cooperative Banking and Central Society Limited
d)     Development Finance Institutions – Equity, Loan, Grant Financing
e)      Special Intervention Funds – Equity, Loan, Grant Financing
4.      Capacity Building – Agricultural Education, Extension, Training and Development Institute – A2ETDI (Increasing Convergence between Theory & Practice in Vocational/Technical Institutions and Tertiary Institutions aimed at continuous significant improvements in Yield, Profit, Micronutrients and Quality)
a)      Primary Centre – Extension, Training, Research, Community Service Programs awarding Attendance / Achievement Certificate
b)     Secondary Centre – Extension, Training, Research, Community Service Programs awarding Ordinary Diploma, Higher Diploma, Post Graduate Diploma and Bachelors Degree – when all required approvals obtained.
c)      Tertiary Centre – Extension, Training, Research, Community Service Programs awarding Masters Degree, PhD and Post PhD Degrees – when all required approvals obtained.
5.      Health – Farm Clinic
a)      Animal Health Service for Livestock and Fisheries
b)     Plant Health Services for all Horticulture and Non Horticulture Crops
c)      Community Health Service for Farmers and their Families.
6.      Knowledge – Community Information Service - CIS
a)      Information Exchange
b)     Communication Management
c)      Knowledge Management
7.      Network  - Partnership for Sustainable Development – PFSD
a)      Inter-governmental and Inter-ministerial Policymakers Network
b)     Angel Investors Network
c)      Creative Enterprise Promoters Network
d)     Multidisciplinary Consultants Network
e)       Service Providers Network
f)       Agricultural Technologies Network
g)      Agricultural Mechanization and Maintenance Network
h)     Anti Poverty Campaigners Network
i)        Anti Corruption Campaigners Network
j)        Peace and Security Promoters Network
k)      Justice and Rights Defenders Network
l)        Development Change Champions Network
m)   Network of Networks (a) – (l)

Prayers

There is urgent need for complimentary action at National and State levels, hence the following Prayers:-
1.     Take up with President Buhari points raised in the 16 March 2016 letter to President Buhari through DG DSS and Ondo Sate Director DSS.
2.     Serve as Co Chief Champion Nigeria Rescue Mission; Patron NEHAP/ISPE/EAG; Angel Investor NEHAP CIFE, CDCL, MCSL, MCUL, MCBCSL.
3.     Help to Galvanize Traditional Rulers to Catalyze Building and Nurturing of Community Integrated Farm Estate, CIFE in their Domain
4.     Help to convert Brain Drain to Brain Gain such that Brexit and Trump can be Force for Good helping Nigeria to actualize her Potential and in ways that effectively strengthen South South Cooperation and North South Cooperation.
5.     Support Agriculture Revolution that Drive Community to Global TRANSFORMATION of Individuals, Institutions and Societies Driving Increasing Convergence between 2030 Agenda: AAAA, SDG, COP21 aligned and harmonized to Community Development Plan and Country Development Plans in each Community in each of 774 LGs in each of 36 States and FCT and National Vision Intention and Reality by target date.
6.     Any other practical help and support that could help tackle Hunger, Poverty, Insecurity, Terrorism, Climate Change real and complex Community to Global problems on the ground in each Community in each of 774 LGs in each of 36 States and FCT and National levels in Nigeria.

Conclusion 


Agriculture Revolution that works to deliver the type of Democracy Dividends Nigerians in each Rural and Urban Community Desire and Deserve could be designed and delivered if the Hexagonal Set of Core Actors genuinely commit individually and jointly towards grappling effectively with all challenges that could hinder achieving the 6 Strategic Objectives identified in this Paper and this includes tackling the Fulani Herdsmen Menace in ways that defend Justice and protect Rights of the Fulani Herdsmen, the Crop Farmers and the Host Community.

Nigeria’s Agriculture: Crops, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries, Aquaculture – Production, Processing, Packaging, Storage, Marketing and Transportation Potential is Huge. The actualization of this huge potential through Agric Mechanization and Modernization is a Master Key to transform Poverty into Prosperity in Nigeria on successful and sustainable basis and in record time. Nigeria has the Human, Natural, Spiritual and Material Resources to actualize this huge potential. However, all necessary arrangements cannot be left to happen on its own but need to be discussed, negotiated, agreed and established and on time. This requires the Hexagonal Set of Core Actors genuinely accept the Role of Co Chief Champions. . Co Chief Champions can help ensure they accept this Role as Platform to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria Rescue Mission that Work.

The Nigeria Rescue Mission is a Task that Must be Done, if Nigeria’s real and complex Political, Cultural, Economic, Financial, Social, Environmental, Peace, Security, Religious, Moral, Legal and Technical problems on the ground in each Community in each of 774 LGAs in each of 36 States and FCT, at National and International levels are to be solved on sustainable and sustainable basis. To achieve this Eminent Nigerians who accept to as Co Chief Champions have Unique and Central Role to Play.





Contact:
Lanre Rotimi
Director General,
International Society for Poverty Elimination / Economic Alliance Group,
Akure – Nigeria, West Africa.

M: +234-8162469805