An Agricultural expert Alhaji Bala Othman Sulaiman has called on government at all levels to invest heavily in agriculture in order to boost food production in the country.
Alhaji Bala, a one time Commissioner of Agriculture, said this while interacting with journalists in Bauchi.
He said “we have to advise the government to invest more in the agricultural sector, as it has the potential to drive economic growth and development in Nigeria.
“If the government can focus more on agriculture, other sectors in the country can equally flourish.”
He said, by investing in agriculture machinery, as part of commitment to the sector, government would not only reduce high cost of labour, it will also enable farmers to cultivate large expanse of land, and optimise their output for good returns.
Alhaji Bala said that with advanced tools at their disposal, farmers can streamline their operations, save time, and produce higher quality crops, which in turn, will contribute to food security, economic growth, it will bring industry and overall development of the country..
He said: “Farmers are very important in any society and the country; they play important role in feeding the country and without the farmers the entire country will be in distress.”
Alhaji Bala said if we want to revive agriculture in Nigeria government should follow innovative ways that will address lingering food and nutrition insecurity across Nigeria.
The former commissioner, who was a one time Programme Manager of Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme BSADP, said “Nigeria is blessed with vast land of agriculture and throughout the year one can plant one seed or the other to grow throughout the year, but our major problem is lack of continuity from where the government of the day stops.”
He said each government comes with its projects and programme but with political will and continuity we will succeed in developing our agricultural sector”
Alhaji Bala said government needs to amplify innovative governance models that can offer fresh perspectives and practical solutions to the challenges facing Nigeria’s food systems.
He said uptil now our government in the 60s is the best government that support agricultural sector which enable them grow both food and cash crops.
“During the 60s before you plant your crop you will know the profit you will make, yoi will know the market and the offtakers of your harvested crop, because a farmer is king who can decide whom he will sell his harvested crop to unlike today.”
He said the agricutultural extension workers will be with the farmer supportinhvand advising him throughout the farming period from plant to harvest”
“Around 1960, because at that time the governments tried their best to improve agriculture, they gave the farmers all the support they needed. Before the farmer started farming, he was told what he needed to grow and sell, he was trained on what to grow and provided to him and the market where he will sell his produce after harvesting.
“Before he starts farming, he knows the price he will sell the produce, he knows the price he will sell a kilo, he knows the price he will sell peanuts, cotton and other products and then whoever sees the right he will not have to sell it because he knows the profit he will get, which is his strength in doing the farming really.”
Alhaji Bala said that “later on, there was a lack of focus and lack of focus on the development of the farms, and there was no focus, except for the fact that something in the budget was allocated for agriculture, and in the end, it was said that support for agriculture was removed”
He said that the governments of every country must invest heavily in agriculture because in the world there is no problem as much as poverty and hunger.
The ex-commissioner said if agriculture is to continue, the government should invest a lot in agriculture, in which research will be carried out, our universities, colleges and other schools and agencies established with the aim of developing agriculture will do the necessary work, seeds will be provided by the farmers.
“If the farmers grow food, the crops they produce will provide enough food to attract farmers and industrialists when they come to buy agricultural products.
“If it is sufficient, companies will come in, because they buy the agricultural products and manage it, if they manage it, there will be ease of poverty and reduction of unemployment, food will be abundant and the wealth of farmers and people the earth will be abundant.”
He also said that the companies will establish factories and get agricultural products that they will control, and the companies will pay the money that will be used on ń researched on a farming technology.
Alhaji Bala said that through agriculture, the government will create a strong and sustainable economy.
“Considering the kind of blessing that God has bestowed on Nigeria from the South to the North, the state that does not have any soil, when you plant a plant, it will grow all over Nigeria at any time, whether it is summer or monsoon, there will be something to plant weather or not, sell and get use”.
He called on the government to think again and invest heavily in agriculture, and to provide modern agricultural equipment and good quality seeds that provide many varieties, and qualified agricultural experts and agricultural products. such as tractors and land and the authorities that will buy the crops, if you do this, you will get a good result” he added
