When I look at the case of Nigeria, I can’t but laugh! I will always laugh at the failure to do the most obvious of things. For instance, how come Nigeria can’t feed its teeming population? How come there’s so much hunger in the land?
I am old enough to know that we have a very good weather condition. I have done some farming and I know we generally have good soil. I live in Abeokuta and I have seen maize sprouting on a rock.
Our problem is that we don’t seem to know our priorities. We have a lot of graduates going about our urban areas looking for white collar jobs. I can boldly say it anywhere that if given the right living conditions, these people will forget white collar jobs and settle down on farm estates.
What are the right living conditions? They are just the basic amenities. If you house them in good apartments, they will gladly go to the rural areas to settle down to farming.
If potable water is made available, the farmers will have a sense of belonging. This can be done by sinking boreholes in the farm estates. The boreholes could be powered with generators which will be put into various uses.
The generator could also be used to supply electricity. It could also be used to provide water for livestock and nursery.
Clubs should be organised for recreation of the farmers. Of course, modern electronic gadgets should be provided for them. I should emphasise the procurement of satellite dishes so that they could watch foreign soccer.
Loans should be made available to them in cash and in kind. Tractors should be provided. Improved seedlings should also be sold to them at subsidised rates.
Government should have a system of fortifying them against gluts. Setting up commodity buying outfits will not be out of place.
If it is possible for a person to go to a farm estate with nothing but the interest and get employed I think our economy will be ’empowered’.
040813
