Despite the federal government spending N266 billion on agricultural research institutes over the past five years, farmers’ output remains low, according to findings by BusinessDay. The allocation averaged N53.2 billion annually, yet farmers continue to struggle with low yields per hectare for various crops.
Farmers and analysts interviewed by BusinessDay point to several factors contributing to the lack of improvement, including corruption, insufficient funding, ineffective government policies, and inadequate distribution channels from research institutes to farmers.
Matthew Aluko, a sub-dean at the Ekiti State University, emphasizes the need for the government to allocate resources effectively to address these issues and ensure that funds reach the right areas to benefit farmers.
Source: Business Day