Having worked in the agricultural sector with various stakeholders for many years, I have realized that low productivity is a big threat to achieving productivity at the primary production level. However, low productivity is a mere symptom and the bigger problem has been linked to policy somersault. There are several policies that were developed to improve the agricultural sector, sadly many of them do not support growth as they were poorly implemented; and no value added to the sector and still remain as working policies that can not be reviewed due to political reasons. Having analyzed the situation at hand, I have come to a conclusion that issues are only addressed when policy makers perceive the negative impact of the issue and its detriments to their political hegemony.
Furthermore, during political seasons as we have it now in Nigeria (a cycle of every 4 years), it is easier for policy makers to listen to the plights of stakeholders and establish facelift solutions through new policies in order to get the acceptance of the populace. By implication, perceived higher political benefits are most times the driving force to get the political willpower of policy makers. So, policies that succeed do have more perceived political benefits and also align with the needs of stakeholders ( although, not always the case). Whereas, to achieve sustainable growth in the agricultural sector, we need policies that are data driven, piloted by passionate policy makers to achieve a social change that sustains growth and development rather than a cycle that puts many in a state of hopelessness.
Therefore, there is an urgent need to better utilize the political system in sustaining growth and development in the agricultural sector. However, the political system needs to be re-organized to be better suited to provide genuine succor to the plight of the people through establishment of sustainable policies. It is very difficult for the agricultural sector to thrive in an hostile environment (unstable political system), and development can only be sustained when the political willpower of policy makers can be sustained with focus on human development beyond mere superficial benefits.
