RETURN TO FARMING, GBENGA DANIEL TELLS NIGERIANS
By Tomisin Adebukola
Nigeria has 70.8 million hectares of agricultural land area, with crops like maize, guinea corn, millet, rice, cassava, yam and beans being the most common among Nigerian farmers. Yet, only 34 million hectares are currently cultivated which means Nigeria relies on imports of about $10 billion to meet its food and agricultural shortfalls.
The Nigerian government in the past eight years spent billions of dollars on programs like Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP) to boost agricultural production and strengthen it as a good alternative to oil. This has been impeded by flooding, desertification of crops and grazing land, extremist insurgency and conflict between herdsmen and farmers. As a result, food inflation rose to over 23.75% by Q1 2023. Thereby creating a state of emergency in food sustainability in Nigeria.
It is therefore laudable that the senator representing Ogun East in the Nigerian senate and former governor of Ogun state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel flagged off a training programme in collaboration with the National Productivity Centre for rice farmers in Ogun state. The programme which was held at the POLA facility, Asoludero Court, Sagamu, Ogun state had in attendance more than 100 farmers.
Speaking on the theme, “Promotion of rice value chain for self-sufficiency and import substitution in Remo Communities, Ogun State,” Senator Daniel harped on the need for the citizens to re-ignite their passion in farming not only to meet local consumption but also to earn foreign exchange for the country.
While acknowledging that Nigeria had great potential in rice cultivation and production, he enjoined Nigerians to focus on food production and allow agriculture to become the mainstay of the economy.
“I want to plead with us that it is time to return to farming. This program is meant to empower our people without fear or favour. We expect you to plant these seedlings and become successful rice farmers. Let us begin to grow rice and make Nigeria become one of the rice-producing countries in the world.”
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Productivity Centre, Dr Nasir Raji-Mustapha, represented by Engr. (Mrs.) Linda Bitrus described rice production as the “new oil” for the nation’s economy. He lauded Senator Daniel for complementing the efforts of the Federal Government in improving the productivity of Nigerian citizens which is the core responsibility of his agency.
Each farmer left the training programme with bags of rice seedlings and fertilizers.
