Date: 2014-08-18

Agriculture is a wide area of human activities. God, in His infinite wisdom, created it the timeless past. Unarguably, agriculture is one of the oldest professions in the world. Since after the time of creation, man has continued to diversify the areas of agriculture to include various types of farming which could broadly be categorized into crop farming, tree crop farming, animal farming, poultry and aqua-culture.

Today, agriculture plays very significant and strategic roles in the developmental programs and plans of developed countries like America, Canada, Malaysia, Japan, etc. In most of the developed world, agriculture enjoys top priority and attention due to the following reasons – stable government policy, huge investment drives, creation of enabling environment, agricultural technological transfer, innovation, among others.

Recently, there have been series of disturbing reports in the media that shortage of food is imminent, considering the global attitude towards food productions.

The report partly stated that the world is on the brink of a major food crisis. This in no doubt has sent jittery down the spine of global inhabitants, Nigeria is not exception.

To buttress this point, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in its annual report estimated that more than 860 million go to sleep hungry everyday and that 25 million people die of related ailment every second. Bizarre you would say, right?

Let us not forget that once upon a time in Zimbabwe, there was a vibrant agricultural policy which ensured food sustainability. In fact, about 50 percent of agricultural produce consumed in South Africa region came from Zimbabwe.

Ironically, in the same country today, absent of agricultural practices have grounded the country to a halt. This has led to country in question to suffered and battled with a- six-digit inflation rate, acute food shortage and stagnant economy. Sure Nigeria will not settle for this mess.

Obviously, in Nigeria, successive governments have not been able to conceive a long term vision and mission for food security and agricultural sustainability program. This has led to gradual food deficit and steady increase in price of stable food in the country. It is a known fact that this sector suffers neglect owing to frequent change in the nation agricultural policy and strategy, poor disbursement or lack of loan facility, absence of massive mechanized agricultural practices and nonchalant attitude of the government and people towards embracing the culture of cultivation. More worrisome is the fact that federal government policies lack human face and hardly enjoy continuity and confidence of the people especially the farmers.

Revolution, Farm Settlement Scheme DFFRI and Operation Feed the Nation. In spite of this unpalatable scenario, agriculture still contributes about 65 percent to the country’s GDP and accounts for about 38 percent of country’s employment work force. The figure which most people are not comfortable with because agricultural sector has the capacity to generate lots more than the current capacity.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization annual reports, Nigeria strategic grain reserve stood at 300,000 metric tones, whereas, for a population of about 150 million and an aspiring agrarian society, the country should have at least 2 million metric tones of grains or even more in its strategic reserve for effective food security and sustainability. Pitifully, 70 percent peasant cultivation has not yielded more than consumption level and for domestic uses only.

In Kwara State, the former Governor, Senator Bukola Saraki, a recipient of the Best Governor Award on Food Security by This Day Newspaper triggered an agricultural revolution, an attempt to reviving Nigerians’ will and zeal to the old trade, which is capable of librating the country from the state of mono-economy it’s currently operating. What is today known as Shonga Farms Holding Enterprises – a public-private partnership is a brain-child of the Senator Bukola Saraki. Again, recently, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, presented a thought provoking lecture on Northern Nigeria Economy Free of Oil Revenue’. While the eloquent governor was delivering his speech, he reiterated that the only way to move Northern part of Nigeria out of the present shackles is to shift attention from oil revenue and embrace agricultural business. Many thanks to continuity initiatives.

There is no doubt that Kwara State Agricultural Scheme is being emulated by other states in the federation as most state officials are paying visit to the state and demanding for the blue print. The success recorded and still being recorded at Shonga and Malete farms are bound to ensure food security for citizenry and generate huge revenue for the state. The current government realized the hidden potentials in agriculture and has exploited it to the fullest. Through this initiative, everybody has realized Kwara is indeed the most agricultural friendly state in the country.

Indeed, Kwara State has led the way, the country needs to take cue from her, even if not totally adopting the idea completely but at least adopt its method and approach. Who knows through Kwara example, the whole country might be bringing back the culture of cultivation. Countries like Malaysia, Israel, Dubai, USA and many more have used their strongest natural endowment to better the lots of their people. Nigeria should not be left out in this quest to change her fortune via agriculture. No doubt, through agriculture, the country’s future is bright.

Ajia Mammud Olayinka, Press Sec., Min. of Sports & Youth Development.