Okpebholo's Investment in Scientific Agriculture is Food Security for Edo -- By Eubaldus Enahoro

 

It dawned on me yesterday that Nigerians are  really suffering when  a small ice fish in the market was sold for N8,000.

The prices of everything, especially food stuff have been on the increase beyond the reach of most people on nearly a daily basis.

A bag of rice in the Market costs more than a month's wage of some family  breadwinner, and the situation is even pathetic for families with more  children to cater for.

Items such as Garri, yam, and pepper have all doubled. Interestingly, while  people are complaining of hunger, the vast fertile land coupled with favourable rainfall, with  youths  ready to work  are idling away across the country.

This is why the Edo State Government has established 3 new campuses of the College of Agriculture  and to push Agriculture into the system scientifically.

The Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has signed the bill amending the name and governing structure of the state school of Agriculture to be known as the Edo state College of Agriculture, Science and Technology  currently being operated in three campuses across the state

The school was formerly known as College of Agriculture and Natural Resources before it was amended by the Governor because Agriculture has gone scientific.

There is no doubt that the amended law will bring about a lot of improvement in the school and the state would benefit immensely from this development that will provide  work force in the agricultural sector

This amended law is coming at the right time when every state  has been charged with the responsibility of meeting it's food consumption rate

The Governor no doubt believes that the state should be able to produce at least 95 percent of what is consumed and Agriculture should be used to increase internally generated revenue of the state.

This move by the state government if properly implemented, scientific agriculture can feed Edo people, cut food prices, and employ thousands of graduates.

Today, most farming in Edo is still done with cutlass and hoe. A farmer in Etsako East plants by guesswork. Another in Igueben loses 40 percent of his tomatoes to pests because he has no training. We rely on food from the North while our own land wastes.

The Governor has demonstrated his  seriousness about whatever he wants to do. We are witness to the distribution of construction equipment to the eighteen local government areas to open up the rural communities and grade roads that will assist farmers take their farm produce to the market.

When the Governor disclosed that Agriculture has gone  scientific it was not just grammar. It means soil testing before planting. It means drip irrigation. 

It means improved seedlings from research, pest control, and mechanization. Provision of loans and grants to farmers to buy tractors and inputs It means taking farmers off the streets and training them in modern methods

Building storage, processing plants, and rural roads from farm to market, Partner with universities to develop crops that resist flood and drought.

The expectation therefore is that when a farmer in Agenebode, can produce 3 times more cassava on the same land, food prices must fall.

The  creation of 3 campuses of the College of Agriculture which  is the engine room for this vision will bring about a lot of improvement in the school and the state would benefit from this development 

With the 3 campuses in Edo South,  Edo Central, and Edo North a youth in Irrua or Igarra will not need to travel to Benin to study agriculture.

Edo South campus can focus on fishery and vegetables. Edo Central on cassava and palm oil. Edo North on rice and maize.

The colleges will produce graduates who become extension officers, agri-entrepreneurs, and researchers. Not job seekers, but job creators.

 Each campus can run a demonstration farm and farmers in that zone will copy what works.

This is not a waste of money. It is an investment. For every N1 the government puts into agriculture education, the state will get N5 back in food and jobs.

The answer is political will and Governor Okpebholo has demonstrated that If the government can fund new ministries, they  can fund farms. 

There is no doubt that people are hungry,  but Edo land is not barren. The solution is in our hands and in our soil and Governor Okpebholo has taken the right steps in the right direction.

The Governor  has  signed the bill into law amending the name and governing structure of the state school of Agriculture to Edo state College of Agriculture, Science and Technology to create job opportunities  for the teeming youths who will engage in farming, livestock rearing and agricultural husbandry.

The rebranded College of Agriculture, Science and Technology will operate across 3 campuses with Iguoriakhi the main campus focusing on Agriculture technology, Uromi Campus for Forestry and Agenebode campus for Aquaculture.

With this development by the state government it is expected that in 3 years, an Edo mother will buy a basket of tomatoes without crying and the fish which I bought so expensive will be cheap and affordable.

In 5 years, "Made in Edo" rice will be in every market. That is obviously the  vision  of Mr. Governor  with the scientific agriculture and these 3 new colleges of Agriculture 

The time to plant is now and the Colleges of Agriculture would educate the youths to focus on the breeding, care and daily management of livestock to produce meat, milk, fiber and eggs for Edo people

Eubaldus Enahoro is former Editor of the Nigerian Observer