We can’t revive our economy without going back to farming

By Seye Adeniyi - updated: Tuesday 16-06-2009

Emeritus Professor Oluwole
AkandeI have been to some African countries and I know how people are living there and their perception to agriculture. I have also been to some countries of the world and I know the priority people there gives to the agricultural sector, even some African countries that are not as big or as developed as Nigeria.

The problem with us in this country is that we don’t see agriculture as being important and vital to our socio-economic development. I also observed that serious priority and attention has not been given to this important sector although the present civilian administration in the country is trying to lift the sector.

But this is also one of the many reasons why people are not eating good food, living well and it is also contributing to food scarcity and high food prices. However, not until we do the right thing as far as agricultural development is concerned, we may continue to experience food insufficiency”.

An Emeritus professor of medicine, Oluwole Akande, stated this during an interview with Tribune Agriculture recently at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Speaking with the members of the pen profession after listening to an impressive, educative inaugural lecture delivered by a professor of agriculture with special interest in nutritional biochemistry, Olusola Deborah Omueti, titled: “Quality nutrients: The embedded glory, vitality and gold in food crops”’ the don said with the abundant God-given resources in the country, as well as the agricultural-friendly weather and climate, Nigeria should not in any way suffer or experience malnutrition, starvation, food scarcity or high food prices.

He also frowned at the ways people relegate agriculture to the background despite concerted efforts and affirmative actions and steps being taken by the government at bringing is the important sector to the forefront.

Akande, who is also the chairman, board of management, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife, Osun State, explained that for the citizens of this nation to achieve good nutritional and health status, the populace must be exposed to good, quality and nutrient-rich foods and this can only be guaranteed if quality, disease-resistant and early maturing crops are planted by farmers.

“Our farmers should be trained or made to understand that it is not just planting any crop that matter, they should realise that planting of good, quality, disease-resistance and high yield crops will produce, quality and bountiful harvest which would also translate to nutrient-rich agricultural produce for people to eat”, he stated.

The former Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, also said it is possible for the country to attain the level of food sufficiency if the agricultural sector of the country can be supported with necessary and adequate funds at the appropriate time.

Prof. Akande also emphasised on the need for serious awareness on the types of crops farmers should plant and the need for people to eat quality food in order for the citizens of the nation to be healthy, since a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.

Furthermore, he advised the Federal Government to continue to support the agricultural research institutes in the country, especially now that many nations of the world are experiencing food crisis and economy meltdown.

The foundation provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, also advised practising farmers in the country to embrace mechanised system of farming for sustainable development if the country is to banish hunger, reduce poverty and attain of food security.

“With what I saw in Ethiopia during my journey to that country, I strongly believe that we can achieve food sufficiency, we too can feed ourselves with less emphasis on food importation or depend on other countries of the world before we can feed our people. But as I said before, the solution to our economic problems is for everybody to go back to agriculture”, he concluded.