– The federal government of Nigeria has said that it expects every university undergraduate to own a farm while on campus
– The minister of agriculture and rural development Audu Ogbeh said Nigeria is in need of practical farmer who will help steer the country dependence away from oil
Nigerian farmer
The federal government has said that it expects every Nigerian undergraduate to own a farm while on university campus.
Speaking in Abuja at the launch of the Agriculture Promotion Policy (2016 – 2020), the minister of agriculture and rural development Audu Ogbeh said it is important that many Nigerians as possible go into farming business.
Ogbeh said:“We expect every undergraduate to own a farm on campus.”Although the minister did not say what will happen to these farms when the students graduate and leave the school, he however said: “We are not looking for theoreticians in agriculture we are looking for practical farmers.”“We are looking at renewing our romance with the universities of agriculture which engaged in a false divorce and matched up to the ministry of education; by law they belong under our ministry,”Ogbeh said.The minister said the federal government will also be talking to secondary schools to inculcate the spirit of agriculture on students.
He said it is important for secondary schools to be able to produce at least eggs and chicken for their consumption.
“Whether you are in the police or the military or whatever you are doing, please think of investing in agriculture. You might be too busy to run a poultry or keep cattle because you need to be there.“But you can start a plantation, invent your own future don’t retire and tell me you are resting. If you retire after a busy life and you rest for too long you are hastening your death,”he said.
Ogbeh said the country is focused on planting three million cashew trees every year for the next three years and spreading cocoa plantations across 26 states in Nigeria with a view of increasing revenue and employment opportunities.
On herdsmen and farmers clash Ogbeh said:“We have to appeal to state governors, you have to lead the way; you have to begin another round of campaign not for votes but for food because some of the tales of hunger we are hearing are too bad for the ears.”He also said his ministry expects a good harvest this year.
“Not only are we called to feed Nigeria, we must also earn money from export,”Ogbeh added.
He said:“We are trying to balance the needs of all, the violence we abhore but the answer is not anger, we have to plan and we are planning.”“Where the state accept, we shall revive grazing reserves but reserves are not reserves of they have no good grasses and water,” the minister said.
He also said Nigeria as a country owesa duty to the herdsmen to assist them.
Adding that consultations are ongoing with the herdsmen to improve on their well-being and business and at the same time protect the farmers in various states across Nigeria.“We need to be able to say to our people that, even if you are down the ladder, there is something to eat because hunger is a terrible disincentive to the society,”the minister said.
Also speaking, the president of All Farmer Association of Nigeria Kabiru Ibrahim said the implementation of the policy is“very doable”.Ibrahim also said the non-availability of aurea to farmers and the clash between herdsmen and farmers in various states across Nigeria have slowed down farming activities and production.
He however said the association welcomes any individual or group of individuals who wish to join the farmers’ association.
– The minister of agriculture and rural development Audu Ogbeh said Nigeria is in need of practical farmer who will help steer the country dependence away from oil
Nigerian farmer
The federal government has said that it expects every Nigerian undergraduate to own a farm while on university campus.
Speaking in Abuja at the launch of the Agriculture Promotion Policy (2016 – 2020), the minister of agriculture and rural development Audu Ogbeh said it is important that many Nigerians as possible go into farming business.
Ogbeh said:“We expect every undergraduate to own a farm on campus.”Although the minister did not say what will happen to these farms when the students graduate and leave the school, he however said: “We are not looking for theoreticians in agriculture we are looking for practical farmers.”“We are looking at renewing our romance with the universities of agriculture which engaged in a false divorce and matched up to the ministry of education; by law they belong under our ministry,”Ogbeh said.The minister said the federal government will also be talking to secondary schools to inculcate the spirit of agriculture on students.
He said it is important for secondary schools to be able to produce at least eggs and chicken for their consumption.
“Whether you are in the police or the military or whatever you are doing, please think of investing in agriculture. You might be too busy to run a poultry or keep cattle because you need to be there.“But you can start a plantation, invent your own future don’t retire and tell me you are resting. If you retire after a busy life and you rest for too long you are hastening your death,”he said.
Ogbeh said the country is focused on planting three million cashew trees every year for the next three years and spreading cocoa plantations across 26 states in Nigeria with a view of increasing revenue and employment opportunities.
On herdsmen and farmers clash Ogbeh said:“We have to appeal to state governors, you have to lead the way; you have to begin another round of campaign not for votes but for food because some of the tales of hunger we are hearing are too bad for the ears.”He also said his ministry expects a good harvest this year.
“Not only are we called to feed Nigeria, we must also earn money from export,”Ogbeh added.
He said:“We are trying to balance the needs of all, the violence we abhore but the answer is not anger, we have to plan and we are planning.”“Where the state accept, we shall revive grazing reserves but reserves are not reserves of they have no good grasses and water,” the minister said.
He also said Nigeria as a country owesa duty to the herdsmen to assist them.
Adding that consultations are ongoing with the herdsmen to improve on their well-being and business and at the same time protect the farmers in various states across Nigeria.“We need to be able to say to our people that, even if you are down the ladder, there is something to eat because hunger is a terrible disincentive to the society,”the minister said.
Also speaking, the president of All Farmer Association of Nigeria Kabiru Ibrahim said the implementation of the policy is“very doable”.Ibrahim also said the non-availability of aurea to farmers and the clash between herdsmen and farmers in various states across Nigeria have slowed down farming activities and production.
He however said the association welcomes any individual or group of individuals who wish to join the farmers’ association.
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