By Alltimepost.com
Houston, TX – Assistance from governments (LGA, State & Federal) on new agricultural practices to the farmers will further enhance their produce, according Professor Agharese Aikpehiomwan Osifo.
Osifo, a Professor of Agricultural economics, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma Edo State of Nigeria, made the assertion while delivering a keynote address at the recently concluded 25th Edo National Association Worldwide (ENAW) convention which took place in Houston Texas, United States from September 2 to 5, 2016.
Professor Osifo who spoke on the Theme: Agricultural Development In Edo State; A Necessity for Growth emphasized that with appropriate policies and incentives, the output of small-scale farmers can be increased.
Speaking specifically about Edo State, he noted that agricultural development could be achieved through extension, research and regulatory outreach “which can lead to the improvement in the livelihood of Edo people involved in agricultural endeavors, inclusive of the micro, medium and large scale agro-business enterprises.”
“Agricultural development will harness both natural and human resources of Edo people in Nigeria and the diaspora as well as attract direct foreign investment,” he noted.
Prof Osifo urged Edo State Government to come up with a policy document for the development of the agricultural sector, with measurable and time-based targets incorporated to ensure greater productivity, adequate food supply, high farmer income and raw materials for industrialization.
Such measures, he continued, should include the activation of the fruit Juice processing plant at Ehor, cassavita factory at Uromi and fertilizer blending plant at Ikpeshi and provide logistic support and price incentives to farmers of major cash crops and staple foods in Edo State.
He also called for the construction of both far and earth roads for case of evacuation of agricultural commodities from the rural to urban areas and research and development into the major agricultural value chain both by the public sector and organized private sector.
Prof Osifo called for the provision of modern agricultural extension services to provide technical support for farmers and urged Edo National Association Worldwide (ENAW) to consider the feasibility of establishing Agriculture and Rural Development Outreach to complement existing medical and educational programs of community Development in Edo State.
Below is full text of the lecture:
Protocols
Quotes:
- Agriculture is our widest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness. Letter from Thomas Jefferson to George Washington (1787)
- It is the agriculture sector that the battle for long-term economic development will be won or lost.
Gunnar Myrdal, Nobel Laure ate in economics - Many development policies continue to wrongly assume that farmers are men.
World Bank, World Development Report, 2008 - Africa is the only region where overall food security and livelihoods are deteriorating. We will reverse this trend by working to create an environmentally sustainable, uniquely African Green Revolution. When our poorest farmers finally prosper, all of Africa will benefit.
Kofi Annan, former United Nation, Nobel Laure for peace, and first chairman of the African Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.
INTRODUCTION
I am delighted to be among you today when the Edo National Association Worldwide (ENAW) is celebrating the foundation for human development and indeed the midwife responsibility for the birth of human culture which is agriculture.
The fundamental of all economy is agriculture. The United States of America (USA) is the strongest economy worldwide with the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to the fact they have galvanized their agricultural potentials which is also the offshoot of their industrial development.
It has been appreciated that food is absolutely essential for human survival, and it was the quest for food that moulded the early existence of mankind. Man’s development in all areas of endeavor has always been predicated on his ability to produce food, quantity of food is excess to his requirement as it is by building up a food surplus can there be a creative class within any society.
Creativity has probably never been associated with farmers and indeed may never be so associated but it is only a society in which a substantial portion of it is not directly involved in agricultural production that can engineer the changes which brings the comforts of civilization.
Food is used by all living bodies to aid growth, maintain and repair body tissues and supply energy. The availability of food is therefore a corollary of good health, productivity and harmony at large.
The otherwise of this, may lead to insecurity, breakdown of domestic law and order, in turns insecurity of the territorial boundary. No wonder the popular saying, a hungry man is an angry man.
The theme of this year’s ENAW convention “AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN EDO STATE; A NECESSITY FOR GROWTH” is an issue which is challenging the intellect of policy makers in Edo State, of Nigeria. Edo State’s huge agricultural potential is not in doubt and tapping such for its growth and development is the right thing to do.
CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION
The word agriculture is a derivative of the Latin words “ager” which refers to the soil and “cultura” to its cultivation.
Agriculture may be simply defined as the cultivation and/or production of crop plants or livestock production.
It is synonymous with farming which may conveniently be referred to as the nature dependent production of food, fodder and industrial organic materials.
Specific regulatory definition provided by the companies Income Taxes Act defines an agro-allied business as any trade of business connected with the establishment or management of plantations for the production of rubber, oil palm, cocoa, coffee, tea and similar crops; the cultivation or production of cereal crops, tuber, fruits of all kinds, cotton, beans, groundnuts, sheanuts, beniseed, pineapples, bananas and plantains; animal husbandry poultry, piggery, cattle, sheep and goat rearing and fish farming.
Agriculture development could be achieved through extension, research and regulatory outreach which can lead to the improvement in the livelihood of Edo people involved in agricultural endeavors, inclusive of the micro, medium and large scale agro-business enterprises.
Agricultural development will harness both natural and human resources of Edo people in Nigeria and the diaspora as well as attract direct foreign investment. The development of the agriculture sector will lead to the following:
- Achievement of food security at the household level and self sufficiency in the production of basic staple food commodities in Edo State.
- Provision of marketable surplus to generate income to farmers, boost inter-state trade and increase internally generated revenue (IGR) for Edo State Government.
- Production of raw materials to meet the requirement of agro-industrialization in Edo State and other parts of Nigeria
Enhancement of agricultural values chain through cultivation and processing of farm produce for export using improved modern technology in compliance with universal best practices. - Creation of sustainable gainful employment opportunities thereby reversing the rural-urban drift. Rural areas are expected to be the modern centers of agricultural production for internal consumption and export of high demand goods such as cocoa, palm produce, rubber, fish, livestock, cassava, rice, citrus and pineapple.
- Adoption and adaptation of superior techniques in processing and other activities and procedures in the agricultural value chains in arable crops, cash crops, forest products, wildlife, livestock, aquaculture and agro-tourism.
- Provision of improved varieties of planting materials, livestock species and training of both extension workers and farmers which will inevitably lead to higher production, hence a growth in the economy.
- The commencement of an active and structured partnership drive with focus on the core areas of agro-allied and human capital development, as well as seeking out credible partners in order to leverage additional expertise and funding.
- Identifying and creating access to marketers, local and international, where agricultural or farm produce will attract commercial value.
Collaboration between all tiers of government (federal, State & Local Councils), commonly development agencies and the organized private sector in the pursuit of sustainable growth and development agenda for Edo State.
3. EDO STATE AGRICULTURE PROFILE
- Population: 3, 218, 332 (2006 census)
- Population Growth Rate: 3.2% per annual
- Total Land Area: 19, 794 square kilometers
- Cultivable Law: 1, 156, 916 hectares
- Food plains: 73,000 hectares mostly at;
Agenebode & Ilushi axis (River Niger)
Osse/Ovia Rivers
Orhionmwon River
Orle River
Alika River
Several Lakes and Ox-bow lakes
Inland water bodies and wetlands
Tropical Climate with district seasons:
Rainy season April to October
Dry season November to March
Average Rainfall: North 150cm, South 250cm
485,000 hectares suitable for cocoa production
57,259 hectares currently cultivated
427, 741 hectares available for cultivation (CRIN, Uhunmora Edo State)
Most versatile soil i.e. sandy, loamy and fertile day-like soil across the 3 senatorial districts able to support cultivation of a wide variety of crops and livestock
Farm settlement schemes located at
Iguoriakhi – Edo State
Ekpoma – Edo State
Sobe – Edo State
Major Livestock & Crops
Poultry
Piggery
Cattle, sheep & goats
Fishery & Aquaculture
Cocoa, Rubber & Palm Produce
Rice, maize & guinea corn
Groundnuts, cowpea & soya beans
Yam, cassava, cocoyam & Potatoes
Citrus, pineapples & mangoes
Timber & forest resources
Wildlife, game & eco-tourism
Domestication of snails, grass cutter & guinea fowls
USAID collaboration with Edo cooperative Apex organization to produce agricultural policy promotion document
PRESCO oil palm & Okomu oil palm company Plc are the two leading agro-business in the Nigerian stock Exchange (NSE) located in Obaretin and Okomu communities respectively.
Public-Private sector Partnership (PPP) Policy of EDSG for agribusiness ventures
Government provides the land also Construct access roads to the farm location
Government gives private sector practitioners C of O for free
Practitioners employs people to develop the farm in full
Farm helps to develop the agricultural value chain
Government encourages farmers cooperatives to go into direct agro-based ventures
EDSG encourages farmers to register with the ADP and currently has 250,000 farmers registered under the National farmer’s database for Edo State.
NIFOR & RRIN have their headquarters and main research stations in Edo State while CRIN has a major sub-station and research center in Uhunmora, Owan West LGA.
4. PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
In spite of the fact of vantage location of Edo as a nodal state and the rich natural endowment, agriculture i.e. is still largely rudimentary with most farmers relying on crude implements and rain-fed agriculture. Farmers’ activities are hindered by lack of support for rural institutions to raise productivity, degradation of arable land, increasing loss of soil fertility, bad agricultural practices, rural –urban migration, limited access to farm inputs, poor marketing and storage facilities and lack of capital for operational expansion, among others.
There is also poor dissemination of available research findings to farmers and declining productivity arising from ageing farming population. Production depends largely on small-scale (peasant) farmers. Studies have shown that these farmers are efficient, given their background and opportunities.
Given the above scenario, assistance from government (LGA, State & Federal) on new agricultural practices to the farmers will further enhance their produce. This, in itself is the strength of the sector. With appropriate policies and incentives, the output of small-scale farmers can be increased.
5. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION.
Government (EDSG) should come up with a policy document for the development of the agricultural sector.
Measurable and time-based targets must be incorporated to ensure greater productivity, adequate food supply, high farmer income and raw materials for industrialization.
Activation of the fruit Juice processing plant at Ehor, cassavita factory at Uromi and fertilizer blending plant at Ikpeshi
Provide logistic support and price incentives to farmers of major cash crops and staple foods in Edo State.
Construction of both far and earth roads for case of evacuation of agricultural commodities from the rural to urban areas.
Research and development into the major agricultural value chain both by the public sector and organized private sector.
Provision of modern agricultural extension services to provide technical support for farmers.
ENAW should consider the feasibility of establishment of Agriculture and Rural Development outreach to complement existing medical and educational programs of community Development in Edo State.
Roger Lemos liked this on Facebook.