Non-Governmental Organizations in Agriculture And Every Thing You Need to know

Introduction to Non-Governmental Organizations in Agriculture

The problems experienced by small farmholders and rural dealers in agriculture are enormous such that are beyond the solution of the government alone.

 Governments all over the world have made various efforts to solve farmers’ problems by promoting agricultural development but have not yielded enough results.

 Spirited individuals are moved by the impacts of this problem on the lives of the people and attempt to solve them.

This spirited individual may collaborate with others who are already solving related problems elsewhere. Or decide to pull resources together to solve that problem to meet the needs of the people.

These spirited individuals who put their resources together to solve the problem or meet the needs of the people are referred to as Non-governmental organizations.

Non-governmental organizations in agriculture are groups of people with a unity of purpose in ensuring that agriculture succeeds across the globe.

NGOs in agriculture are established in line with the Zero Hunger of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) or Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

These individuals have seen that agriculture is the main source of living for the people of the world and are doing everything possible to ensure that agriculture develops to meet the food needs of the people and industrial needs respectively.

Non-governmental organizations in agriculture are saddled with the responsibility of helping farmers and rural communities with the ability to improve access to basic education, prevent the spread of contagious disease, increase access to clean water, improve sanitation, expand economic opportunities, and protect forest natural resources.

Read Also: Top 11 Roles of Agricultural Extension in West Africa’s Agricultural Development 

Examples of Non-Governmental Organizations in Agriculture

Some examples of non-governmental organizations in agriculture, across the sub-Sahara  African countries include:

1.  International Crops Research Institute for semiarid
2. West African Rice Development Agency (WARDA).
3. International Crop Research institute-aide
4. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
5. International Center for Research in Agro-Forestry
6. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
7. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
8. Adventist Relief Agency (CRS).
9. Action Aids.
10. World Vision International.
11.  Catholic Relief Organization.
12.  Hunger Project(Ghana).
13. Ecwa rural development.
14.  Adventist Relief Agency.
15.  Food and Agriculture Organization

Characteristics of Non-Governmental Organizations in Agriculture

The characteristics of NGOs in Agriculture are as follows

1. Establish by private agencies or corporate bodies: NGOs in agriculture are not established by the government, they are set up by private individuals to boost agricultural productivity. They are philanthropist providing humanitarian services and fighting agricultural problems across the globe. They focus on working alongside farmers and other top government officers in solving agricultural problems. NGOs in agriculture equipped rural women, men, young adults, and entire communities with the proper resources to avert poverty.
2. They are not controlled by the government: unlike the civil services which are controlled by the established rules and regulations stipulated by the government. NGOs in agriculture are not controlled by the government. Although they are set up by the rules and regulations of companies and the Alliance Act (Cooperate Affair Commission. CAC). Their mundus operandis are not controlled by the government. They are managed by their own rules and regulations without interference from the government. Since they are not controlled by the government, they do need permission from the government to execute their activities.
3. They are privately funded: since NGOs in agriculture are not established by the government, they are not managed or funded by public treasuries like other ministries and departments. Although they can receive support or donations from the government. They collaborate with wealthy individual or organizations to support their activities. NGOs in agriculture undergo the risk of working with private bodies to fund agriculture and thus reduce the risk in farming and promote innovation in agriculture. In other to source funds to execute their numerous activities, they partner with the private sector and organizations to help share risk and increase agricultural productivity. Partnerships also exist between NGOs and the communities they are working with to provide some support like giving a piece of land, timber, and social work to enable them to execute projects in the communities.
4. Their activities spread across many countries: the activities of Non-governmental organizations in agriculture spread across the world to build sustainable, resilient, and productive agricultural systems that are capable of promoting agricultural development. The main aims of spreading their tentacle across the globe are to provide Sustainable Development in agriculture and help farmers adopt better systems of farming that will ensure the protection of natural resources upon which agricultural systems are built. They partner with various spirited individual in different countries to fulfill their roles of promoting rural agricultural development through the execution of agricultural project initiatives in communities, facilitating training, market linkages, certification, research, and social support around the nation and the world. Their activities are not limited to poor and vulnerable communities or countries but working to improve and provide sustainable solutions to restore degraded agricultural land and boost food production around the world.
5. They are non-profit organizations: NGOs in agriculture are non-profit-making bodies, they do not assist farmers to increase food production and incomes to earn profit. They execute their roles in increasing food production and agricultural development selflessly without the interior motive of making a profit. Most agricultural NGOs are established in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) which is to help the poor and vulnerable individuals combat hunger and access sustainable food. The NGO services such as increased food production, promoting resilience to climate change, helping Farmers maximize profits and reduce external input costs, and access to markets are all selfless services without profit attached. The amount of income farmers generate from agriculture is basically to improve farmers’ standard of living and livelihoods.
6. They do not pay corporate taxes:  NGOs are non-profit making organizations so they do not pay taxes. Their multidimensional roles and services are humanitarian services and don’t demand extra burden on them. The government across the globe exempts NGOs from paying cooperate taxes.

Functions of Non-Governmental Organizations in Agriculture

The functions of Non -government organizations in agriculture in Nigeria and other sub-Sahara African countries cannot be overstated, some of these functions are:

1. Provision of Credits or Financial Assistance to Farmers: NGOs in agriculture have helped to provide financial assistance to farmers with short and medium loans with minimum interest rates to boost their crops and animal production. Finance is one of the major needs of farmers in Nigeria and other West African countries. In these countries access to loans or credit by the farmers has proven to be very difficult. Some financial institutes in these countries often demand collateral security for loans from these farmers before loans can be issued to them. The only properties they have as collectors are their pieces which have no certificate of occupancy from the state government. Couple with a lack of appropriate farm records. These have become challenges or hindrances to farmers to have access to credit facilities or loans to increase their production. In light of this, non-government organizations in agriculture have encouraged farmers by assisting them with credit facilities to invest in agriculture and ensure the timeliness of farming operations.
2. Assist Farmers with Farm Implements / Tools: – NGOs in agriculture have assisted in the funding of research for better modern farming implements that will be farmers friendly. Access to modern farm implements has been very difficult for small and medium-scale farmers. These have resulted in farmers using local and crude farm tools which have reduced farmers’ productivity. Non – Non-government organizations in agriculture have helped farmers in the importation of good machines and implements at a low rate, and have encouraged local fabrication of improved tools and implements to productivity.
3.  Provisions of Basic Amenities: – Rural-urban migration due to inadequate basic amenities has affected the labor force of the rural area. To make the rural conducive for people NGOs in Agriculture have come up with modalities to improve rural life to aid rural agricultural development in Nigeria and West Africa by providing essential amenities such as water supply, construction of feeder roads, health centers, schools, markets, etc. to make life conducive for the rural farmers.
4.  Provision of Processing Facilities: – Agricultural produce is usually fragile and is very heavy in its raw state. Because of their fragile nature, they become easily perishable while others are unfit for consumption. These products need some form of processing before consumption and marketing. Some of these processing facilities are not available to farmers. To these farmers’ challenges, NGOs in agriculture have helped farmers across Nigeria and other West African countries with some modern and locally fabricated processing machines. They have also improved farmers’ utilization of these machines.
5. Provision of Storage Facilities: – Non- Non-government organizations in Agriculture have funded research in many countries on how to improve the utilization of traditional and modern storage facilities to boost food security. The increasing high demand for agricultural produce and the need to store produce for future use as well as maximizations of profit among farmers has made NGOs in agriculture fund research on better storage facilities that will suit the needs of rural communities across the West Africa sub-region.
6.  Provision of Agricultural Extension Services / Education to Farmers: – The agricultural extension agents’ ratio to farmers in Nigeria and other West African sub-regions has been very low. Research has shown that the ratio of farmers to extension agents remains at 1:1600 farmers, which has reduced the activities of Agricultural Extension services to farmers. To bridge this gap NGOs in Agriculture have helped improve farmers’ access and adoption of agricultural innovations.
7.  They fund agricultural Extension Projects: – Provision of fertilizers, improved seeds, financial assistance, and training and visits are major programs of agricultural extension agents to farmers. Due to inadequate financial provisions from the government, extension agents find it difficult to execute these programs. NGOs in agriculture therefore have helped fund extension projects by providing support or funding agricultural extension projects (i.e. Provision of any financial assistance). Many of these NGOs have helped to sponsor one agricultural project or another in some rural communities to boost food availability.
8.  Improve Varieties of Crops: Non-government organizations in agriculture in agriculture have helped perform various research to develop or improve new varieties of crops that will mature early, high-yielding, and resistant to pests and diseases to boost food security and meet consumer dietary satisfaction. NGOs in agriculture have also facilitated advocacy on how farmers can be encouraged to grow the improved varieties of crops.
9.  Improve Breeds of Animals: – The demand for animals or livestock that are better in milk, eggs, and meat as well as to meet the needs of the consumer has been the desire of NGOs in agriculture Across the West Africa sub-region. Non-governmental organizations in agriculture have helped fund research to produce farm animals that will mature early, and be resistant to pests and diseases.
10.  Parasites and disease control: – Parasites are living organism that depends on another parasite for the success of life hood. Many of these parasites and diseases have reduced farmers’ yield and productivity. Humanitarian organizations in agriculture provide vaccines and drugs to farmers to help control diseases and parasites of farm animals. They also have performed various research on the usage of vaccines and drugs.
11.  Provide Farming Inputs: – The use of old species of plant seeds for planting and, the lack of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides have made farming difficult. demand for the use of agrochemicals, (such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides), vaccines, drugs, improved seeds, and breeds of animals by farmers has been on the increase to boost agricultural production. To meet these demands Non-governmental organizations in agriculture have assisted farmers with these farm inputs, as well as carried out research for better utilization of these farm inputs.
12. Developed improved farming System: – a farming system in Nigeria and other West African countries has been characterized by traditional systems that have reduced productivity. To solve this problem NGOs in agriculture have to develop appropriate farming systems for the West African region and improve the utilization of these methods for the growth of food crops. They have also helped different communities across the West Africa sub-region to obtain the highest returns from their lands and animals for food, shelter, clothing, and fuel needs without compromising the fertility and productivity of the soil.

 

List of Non-governmental Agricultural Organizations in West Africa.

In a bid to combat food insecurity across sub-Saharan Africa, various non-governmental organizations in agriculture have been established to help farmers produce enough quantities of food to meet the rising global demand and provide innovative processes for processing and storing different products.

Some of the NGOs in agriculture across the West African sub-regions are.

1.  International Crops Research Institute for semi-arid.
2.  West African Rice Development Agency (WARDA).
3.  International crop research institute-aide for see
4.  International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
5.  International Center for Research in Agro-Forestry
6.  International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
7. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
8.  Adventist Relief Agency (CRS).
9.  Action Aids
10.  World Vision International
11.  Catholic Relief Organization
12. Hunger Project(Ghana)
13. Ecwa rural development
14.  Adventist Relief Agency
15.  Food and Agriculture Organization

List of Non-governmental Agricultural Organizations in Nigeria.

Since the introduction of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

Many non-governmental organizations in agriculture have been formed to promote zero hunger through the promotion of sustainable agriculture initiatives to address food insecurity and boost food production. Some notable NGOs in agriculture are

1.  Food and Agriculture Organization
2.  International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
3.  International Crops Research Institute for semi-arid tropic (ICRISAT)
4.  International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
5. Catholic Relief Organization
6. Adventist Relief Agency
7.  International crop research institute-aide for see
8. International Center for Research in Agro-Forestry
9.  International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
10. Adventist Relief Agency (CRS).
11. Action Aids
12.  World Vision International
13.  Ecwa rural development
14. West African Rice Development Agency (WARDA).
15.  International Food Policy Research Institute
16. Harvest plus international

What are the Characteristics of non-governmental organizations in agriculture?

NGOs in agriculture are described as both the initiators and implementers of agricultural projects and depend majorly on funds from donors to execute projects (Plaxedes, Chitiyo &  Duram).

So based on their activities, the following are the Characteristics of non-governmental organizations in agriculture:

1. They are established by philanthropists/ private agencies or corporate bodies.
2. The government does not influence their activities.
3. They solely depend on donor funds.
4. Their activities are not restricted to particular countries.
5. They provide humanitarian or selfless services that do not involve profit.
6. Their staff are not paid by the government.
7. They are not private or public limited liability companies ( i.e. they don’t sell shares).
8. They do not pay corporate taxes

What is the Importance of non-governmental organizations in agriculture?

Small farmholders across the globe are poor, and operate small areas of land with low input, poor farming systems.

The global rise in inflation has created an increase in the price of agricultural inputs. Leading to widespread poverty in rural areas.

In Nigeria and other sub-Sahara Africa where subsistence agriculture is widely practiced poverty serves as a major challenge to small farmholder farmers in trying to boost food production.

NGOs in agriculture have helped small farmholders acquire farm inputs and increased FOOD Production.

Some of the Importance of non-governmental organizations in agriculture are:

1.  Assist farmers with Credits or Financial assistance to increase agricultural productivity.
2. They help provide Basic Amenities such as portable water, markets, etc.
3. They help to create awareness to reduce the influence of climate change.
4. They provide innovation on better farming methods thus increasing farmer incomes.
5. They help improve farmers’ standard of living through sustainable crop and animal production.
6.  They help farmers practice sustainable agricultural practices that help to reduce soil erosion, and drought risk, and increase soil fertility.
7. They provide training that helps farmers increase crop yields through the practices of sustainable farming such as cover cropping, composting, crop rotation, and irrigation.
8. They equip farmer’s necessary skills to execute rural development community projects.
9.  They equip farmers with better crop production and marketing decision-making skills.

In conclusion.

The roles of non-governmental organizations in agriculture across the world have helped in rural community development.

They Assist farmers with Credits or Financial assistance to increase agricultural productivity, provide Basic Amenities, create awareness to reduce the influence of climate change, and provide innovation on better farming methods thus increasing farmer incomes and improving farmers’ standard of living through sustainable crop and animal production.

They have also provided holistic approaches that have solved farmers’ economic, social, and environmental problems.