Soldiers as farmers: army agriculture and food security in contemporary Nigeria

Abstract

FAO estimates that most of Nigeria’s population is underserved; besides hunger, people experience effects of poor nutrition – diabetes, obesity, anaemia, etc. Formerly Nigeria was an agricultural country, but now its local production does not satisfy its own food demand. Farming is inefficient due to many factors, including conflicts between farmers and pastoralists, rooted in the very method of livestock breeding: pastoralists roam Nigeria all year round, while raising animals on ranches is barely practiced; as the population grows rapidly, agricultural plots begin to occupy traditional migration routes, and passing cattle destroy crops. Farmers take revenge by killing or stealing cattle. Consequently, Nigerians suffer from loss of livestock and crops and forced displacement. The government and the army established the Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited (NAFARL), which enabled small-scale agricultural enterprises to organize on army lands. Thereby the army demonstrates advantages of non-nomadic livestock breeding and creates jobs. It is too early to draw conclusions on the effectiveness of NAFARL, as less than two years have passed since its inception. However, it may be argued that the army is capable of not only resolving conflicts, but also supporting the development of agriculture and achieving food security.