Nigeria, April 28 -- On the penultimate weekend, I drove through Western Nigeria-from Osogbo through Owode-Ede, Ode-Omu, Gbongan, Ikire, and the dozens of villages in between. I realised there is something eerily disturbing about agricultural practice and the changing structures of the economies in many of the villages and towns I visited.

Whenever I embark on road trips, I often stop midway between villages to feel the pulse of the people, buy from and interact with (agric) produce suppliers and off-takers, observe the structure of the local economy, and pick important lessons where necessary. Last week was no exception, and the lessons are as poignant as they appear somewhat worrisome.

From the trip, just as in my movements across Wes...