It is clear to the blind and audible to the deaf that one of the major challenges facing Nigeria is a fall in her economy! It's also practically true that our economy is not diversified and has for long depended on the oil sector whose success is determined by other nations! A recent fall in price of crude oil has completely exposed how unreliable such a sector and dependence could be.The current status of the economy played a vital part in the general choice of Nigerians in the just concluded presidential elections.We write with all sense of humility from BENUE STATE, the food basket of Nigeria to call on president GMB to diversify our economy and in that respect,AGRICULTURE if properly harnesed can be a direct substitute to crude oil. It may sound strange but we can recall that MALAYSIA through delegates from her ministry of Agriculture came some years ago to this country,demanding education on PALM PLANTATION and today palm products are responsible for her economy! In the same vein....

THAILAND came for CASAVA and todaythere are imported sachets of GARI and tins of Thailand's starch in our very supermarkets! The two countries are doing very well as income from Agriculture is channeled to TECHNOLOGY! Here is a summary of some of the merits and potentials AGRICULTURE;
1. Agriculture can be practiced every where in the country with atleast one form suited in every region.
2.Every Citizen Can Be Able To Practice Agriculture.
3.Agriculture Is Responsible For Food And Food Can Not Be Substituted by anything as long as life is on.
4.With The Fast evolving solar technology,who knows when petrol will be useless? remember how GSM kicked NITEL!
5.Agriculture Is Relatively Cheaper but more profitable!
7.A development in agriculture and subsequent diversification of economy will kick out CONSTANT THREATS FROM A REGION!
8.AGRICULTURE CONFORMS WITH THE ORIGINAL PLAN OF GOD FOR MAN'S WEALTH.
CONGRATULATIONS.
{ENGR CHIA S.KENNETH-CEO,chia Agro Products LTD,makurdi,BENUE STATE}