Nigeria boasts of a large area of fertile lands for Agriculture, but with an explosive population and very reduced number of farmers, how will the country be able to feed its people in the future?

Southern Nigerian cities are fast encroaching fertile lands depleting spaces available for Agriculture. The most notorious is Benin city in Edo state. The city has expanded far beyond its boundaries depleting farmlands and forests in surrounding villages.

The Ikpoba Hill and Sokponba Axes have long been overwhelmed. What is alarming is the springing
up of large buildings and streets in Ekewan road. Igo village known for large expanse of rubber plantations and cassava farms is now populated with people and houses.

Expanding population and housing should be a good thing for a country when there is proper planning, regulation and control. Instead, uninformed community youths view the expansion of big cities into their communities as opportunity to make quick money from reckless land sales at the expense of the environment and the future generation, while people in government look on.

Lagos has already exhausted over 90% of its land mass. Now, Lagosians depend on the importations of foods like plantain, yam, garri, banana, etc., from places like Benin. And now that Benin is also losing its land mass, how will it feed itself and cater for the needs of Lagos?

The uncontrolled expansion of the urban areas into rural areas is not the only problem threatening the availability of food in Nigeria. Population of farmers is also dwindling.

Young people do not regard Agriculture a noble endeavor. Agriculture has in recent times becomes a profession reserved for the poor and uneducated. Even older farmers would rather their children become something else than continuing the farming business.

Most graduates of Agriculture prefer working in a Banks, Telecommunication companies or some offices than working as agriculturists...... Read More http://www.searchlightnigeria.com/2013/11/who-will-feed-nigerians.html