The Landmark University in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, has urged stakeholders in the country to practically move against the rising level of poverty among large percentage of Nigerians, and check overdependence on the Western world for sustainability, saying the situation has negatively affected the growth of agriculture in Nigeria.

Discussants at a forum organized by the university as part of activities to mark Nigeria's 55th independence anniversary celebration noted that the manual method of farming which is labour-intensive has discouraged many from the agricultural profession, insisting that serious measures must be taken to create the interest of the citizens in farming with a view to transforming the agricultural sector and boosting economic growth.

The discussants on "Nigeria at 55, Driving a Sustainable Agricultural Base: the Way Forward", who were drawn from members of faculty and the student body, included Dr. S. O. Adewara, Dr. Ayo Soyinbo, Mr. Niyi Adejobi, King Godwin David, King Abiodun Oyedepo and King Daniel Davies. They represented the three colleges in the university: Agricultural Sciences; Science and Engineering; and Business and Social Sciences.

According to the scholars, other factors responsible for dwindling fortune of agriculture in this clime include misconception among the youth that agriculture is for the aged and backward people, and lack of leadership will on the part of the government to implement good policies that would help the occupation.

For Nigeria to overcome agriculture -related challenges, they recommended that:

* every Nigerian should be made to see agriculture as a lucrative profession;

* methods of farming should be technology-driven;

* youths should be encouraged to venture into farming; and

* government should come up with inspiring strategic plans for the agricultural sector and there must be the political will to implement such plans.

The experts added that for Nigeria to experience the needed agricultural transformation, there must be adequate provision of extension services to farmers on best practices, as well as partnership between the government and private organizations to achieve the national goals for agriculture. "Other measures needed to be taken into consideration include provision of basic infrastructure for farming, effective transportation system, motivation and protection of farmers from attacks."

In his remarks, the Registrar, Dr. Daniel Rotimi, noted that the failure of the government to have a futuristic plan for the agricultural sector has made it unattractive to many. He added that one of the ways the government could make agriculture attractive is by giving the scholarship and incentives to the students, individuals and organizations that are interested in farming.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aize Obayan said as a way of preventing prodigal farming (importing what we can produce as a nation), Nigerians should be part of the university's agrarian vision in order to drive sustainability and self-sufficiency in food production in Nigeria. She advised that indigenous farming practices should not be abandoned but improved upon through research.