Photo credit: Times live
Did you know a lot of people never had chicken for Christmas? It wasn’t because they were herbivores. They were just too poor to afford chickens!
What about those who could not buy new or even ‘tokunbo’ clothes for their children. It was not because the children already had too many clothes. Their parents just could not afford those clothes.
However, if we could open our eyes and use our senses, we could make our nation, Nigeria, better. I am concerned about the provision of food here.
Now, let us imagine the central government establishes an agricultural estate for each local government in Nigeria. Each state complements it by doing the same. The third tier of government is not left behind because each local government is not left out.
Each local government will thus have three agricultural estates.
Each of this estates will empower forty farmers. That will be forty families. Let us assume each farmer is given four hectares of ploughable land. A farmer is also entitled to land for his livestock.
The farms must have all modern facilities. Each estate must have power supply. Each farmer must be housed in a two-bedroom flat (at least). A club house must be established on each estate. The club house should have satellite facilities. This will keep the young farmers on the farms. I have the premiership leagues in mind.
Health facilities must also be provided.
Credit facilities must be provided in cash and kind. This will take care of inputs. Indeed, it should be done in a way that a prospective farmer just needs to pack his clothes in a bag and present himself on the nearest farm estate.
If this could be done, there is no doubting the fact that food will be abundant. So many people will also be employed. Of course, there will be a reduction in crime rate.
Above all, food importation will reduce thereby saving scarce foreign exchange. The Naira will therefore appreciate.
The rural-urban migration that has become a nagging problem to our city planners will also be curbed. As long as those things young people are looking for are in the rural areas, they are not likely to venture into the urban areas.
It is only a progressive political party that will involve itself in this. It is a service to humanity.
However, if we can tell politicians what we want, we’ll get there. ‘A people deserves its leadership’.
Happy new year!!!
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