From Jimoh Balogun, Ado-Ekiti
The founder Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola SAN, at the weekend said that the Federal Government can encourage farming in the country by giving successful practicing farmers national awards instead of limiting it to politicians.
Babalola who stated this at the grand finale of the year 2023 Afe Babalola Agricultural Exhibition which took place at the ABUAD campus, noted that the current situation where politicians especially governors are considered, would not encourage ordinary Nigerians to excel.
The legal luminary gave deserving farmers drawn from the 16 local government areas of the state a total of N11. 2million cash prices for their outstanding performance.
The ABUAD Chancellor who said that the goal of the yearly agriculture exhibition was to revive the interest of ordinary man in farming, urged the Federal Government to direct Bank of Industry and the Bank of Agriculture to assist farmers cooperative societies with credit facilities.
As parts of ways to revive agriculture, Babalola said that Universities and other institutions where agriculture is taught should reduce their fees by 50 percent, “as is done in ABUAD”, saying this would encourage more students to study agriculture.
“The monthly subvention to the state government should include allocation specially meant for the farmers in the local government. Local Governments should form cooperative societies for farmers to enable them access such funds”.
Underscoring why government should give better attention to farmers, the legal icon said, “farmers are going through very difficult time at the moment especially due to the recent removal of fuel subsidy and suffocating loan conditions by banks.”
He said that the era of cutlasses and hoes must stop, saying” how many of us in Ekiti can buy modern equipment for farming. The modern equipment enable rich and highly educated people to engage in large scale farming, whereas in Nigeria, we continue to use cutlasses and hoes thereby engaging in small scale farming. This must stop. ”
Babalola praised the farmers for their commitment to food security, saying “you have been here for a week now. Our University and the whole of Nigeria appreciate your interest, enthusiasm and in particular your cooperation in making our dreams come true.”
In his remarks, the Elemure of Emure -Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebowale Adebayo, who spoke on behalf of other monarchs at the event, regretted that despite the fact that God gave the country fertile land and population, it could not feed itself not to talk of feeding Africa.
He urged the youths to stop chasing white collar jobs and embrace farming, saying that agriculture has value chain that could be exploited.
“We should be feeding Africa. This is a big lesson for our leaders. We urge people who have money to invest in agriculture so that we can not only feed ourselves but feed other nations.”