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Nigeria is blessed with ample pure assets. However lengthy earlier than the invention of many of those assets, particularly crude oil, the Nigerian economic system relied on the agriculture sector which accounted for a median of 57% of GDP and generated upwards of 65% in export earnings.
However over time, the Nigerian agriculture sector has seemingly misplaced its relevance as a consequence of negligence. Current figures launched by the Nationwide Bureau of Statistics (NBS) confirmed that the agriculture sector contributed about 23.24% of nation’s GDP in Q2 2022.
Whatever the challenges, the agriculture sector stays essential to the Nigerian economic system. And like each different sector, it’s regulated by numerous legal guidelines. This text seems at a few of these legal guidelines.
1. The Nationwide Agricultural Seeds Act Cap. N5 Vol. 10 LFN 2004
The general goal of the Act is to harmonise the seed trade with different agricultural enter industries to fulfill the growing demand of the agricultural sector.
The Act additionally seeks to manage the event of the nationwide seed system by establishing a council referred to as the Nationwide Agricultural Seed Council. The council is chargeable for the coverage tips and monitoring of the event of the nationwide seed system.
The Act additionally proposes numerous packages, insurance policies and actions concerning seed improvement and the seed trade.
Nationwide Agricultural Land Growth Authority (NALDA) Act Cap. N5 Vol.10 Legal guidelines of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004: This Act seeks to offer strategic public help for land improvement.
In keeping with the Act, “improvement” is outlined because the bodily preparation of land for crop and livestock and contains precise inventory and livestock manufacturing, storage, processing and advertising in addition to the supply of social infrastructural services.
The Act established the Nationwide Agricultural Land Growth Authority as a company physique with the mandate of harnessing the complete potential of the huge arable lands in Nigeria, empowering smallholder and large-scale farmers. Different duties embody mechanising the drive for meals and fibre safety whereas helping efforts to diversify the economic system.
The Act additionally seeks to
- Promote and help optimum utilisation of Nigeria’s rural land assets for accelerated manufacturing of meals and fibre;
- Broaden productive capability in agriculture and regain export functionality in conventional and non-traditional crops;
- Encourage the evolution of economic-size rural settlements that can reap the economies of scale within the provision of social infrastructures;
- Present gainful employment alternatives for rural individuals, elevate rural incomes and enhance the final residing requirements in rural areas;
- Contribute considerably in the direction of the attainment of nationwide meals and fibre self-reliance, self-sufficiency and nationwide meals safety by means of optimum utilisation of obtainable ample land assets which ensures minimal soil and environmental degradation, whereas concurrently selling sustainable agriculture.
- Facilitate applicable cost-effective mechanisation of agriculture.
2. The Agricultural Credit score Assure Scheme Fund Act Cap. A10 LFN 2004:
This Act established a fund into which a sure sum of cash is to be subscribed to, making provision for and guaranteeing loans for agricultural functions by any financial institution.
As stipulated by the Act, “mortgage granted pursuant to the Act shall not be utilized for any function aside from that for which such mortgage was granted.
Legal legal responsibility is prescribed for any individual (together with firms) who applies for such loans in contravention of the Act.”
Nigerian Agricultural Insurance coverage Company (NAIC) Act Cap. N89 LFN 2004
This Act gives a scheme to guard the Nigerian farmer from the impact of pure hazards by introducing measures which guarantee ample indemnity to maintain the farmer in enterprise and to determine the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance coverage Company.
NAIC as a Company is chargeable for the implementation, administration, and administration of the Agricultural Insurance coverage Scheme in Nigeria.
3. Agricultural (Management of Importation) Act Cap. A13 LFN 2004
This Act gives for the regulation of the importation of articles used for controlling plant illnesses and pests that are injurious to agricultural or horticultural crops.
Part 4(1) of the Act mandates the Minister of Agriculture to manage the importation of crops, seeds, soil, containers, straw and different packing supplies, synthetic fertilisers, and different comparable items which might probably be infectious to native fauna and flora.
Laws made beneath this part might present {that a} contravention of any specified rules shall be an offence and should present penalties in respect thereof.
4. Environmental Affect Evaluation Act Cap. E 12, LFN 2004
This Act set out the final rules, procedures and strategies to allow the prior consideration of environmental influence evaluation on sure public or non-public tasks.
It gives the framework for evaluation of the influence of actions prone to have important impacts on pure assets and the atmosphere.
It additionally ensures that the potential environmental influence of a proposed exercise is recognized and evaluated earlier than approval is given to proceed with the planning and implementation of such exercise.
5. The Sea Fisheries Act Cap S4 LFN 2004)
This Act gives for the management, regulation and safety of sea fisheries within the territorial waters of Nigeria.
As stipulated by the Act, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture is chargeable for the registration of vessels for fishing or shrimping functions
The Act gives for the licensing of motor fishing boats and easy methods to go about making use of for the licence.
Part 1 states that “No individual shall function or navigate any motor fishing boat for the aim of fishing or a reefer vessel for the aim of discharging frozen fish inside the territorial waters of Nigeria or its unique financial zone until that boat or reefer vessel has been duly registered and licensed.”
What you must know
- The regulatory authorities of the agricultural sector embody The Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management (NAFDAC), the Normal Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Growth (FMARD), Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Customs Service.
- Different legal guidelines relevant to the agricultural sector embody the Firms and Allied Issues Act (CAMA), Agricultural Analysis Council of Nigeria Act Cap. A12 LFN 2004, The Land Use Act Cap L5 LFN 2004, The River Basins Growth Authorities Act 1987, Agricultural and Rural Administration Coaching Institute Act (Cap A10 LFN 2004 and the Nationwide Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds (Registration, and many others.) Act.
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