The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Federal College of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Kolawole Adebayo, has urged the federal government to revamp and strengthen the agricultural extension system to allow Nigerian farmers to maximise alternatives for elevated meals manufacturing.
Talking on Saturday on the first reunion anniversary of the 1986 set of the College of Ife College of Agriculture, now the Federal School of Agriculture, Akure, held on the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Adebayo expressed concern over the diversion of presidency assist away from real farmers.
Delivering a lecture titled “Networking By means of Alumni Affiliation for Entrepreneurial Alternatives and Growth”, Adebayo decried the neglect of actual farmers, stressing the necessity for focused interventions.
“Nigerian farmers have a comparative benefit that no different nation can compete with, however the true farmers are taken as a right,” he mentioned.
He lamented that many real farmers are too busy with their work to pursue authorities advantages, including: “Even when alternatives come up, they’re usually misdirected to those that should not real farmers.”
Adebayo known as on the federal government to deploy agricultural extension officers on to farms moderately than counting on bureaucratic processes.
“Sadly, the extension system has been watered down. The federal government should strengthen it to realize significant influence,” he added.
He additionally criticised the reliance on imported rice in periods of meals shortages.
“When our leaders imported rice to deal with starvation, who grew that rice? If Nigerian farmers had been contracted to provide it, with correct extension assist, they might have benefited, and the economic system would have been strengthened,” he mentioned.
Former Commissioner for Agriculture in Ondo State and fellow alumnus of the school, Dr. Samson Odedina, echoed Adebayo’s sentiments.
He underscored the significance of supporting farmers in any respect ranges to boost meals safety.
“Assist for farmers globally is non-negotiable. It’s important to making sure meals safety and boosting the economic system,” Odedina mentioned.
He suggested younger Nigerians to discover alternatives in agriculture, emphasising its profitability and potential.
Odedina additionally urged the federal government to seek the advice of seasoned specialists moderately than counting on superficial information from on-line sources to develop the sector.
