VangaurdNgr:THE Presidency, yesterday, raised alarm that Nigerians would starve to death by 2050 if nothing was done to ensure an all year round farming.

It also said with the rate the country was going, the population would by 2050 rise to 509 million.

According to the Federal Government, the present mode of farming will not sustain the increasing population in the country.

It noted that there was the urgent need for all major stakeholders to work towards improving mechanized farming and irrigation, to ensure an all year farming to avert the problem.

Speaking, yesterday, during the budget defence of 2016, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the country had the capacity to grow the grass required by the cattle to consume.

He said: “We have written to state governments to encourage them to develop dams and canals so that agriculture becomes an all year round activity and it is not confined to the rainy season alone.

“Besides, by 2050, Nigeria population will be very close to 500 million at the current rate of growth. This is just 34years from now. If we carry on at the current rate of one crop per year, with very low mechanization, Nigerians run the risk of starving to death.

He said: “We intend to intensity and consolidate on the local staples, the yams, the cassava, the beans, especially rice and wheat. Both of which consume $11 million per day in import. The figure is going down a bit. We can’t afford that in the long run because we don’t even have the resources.

“The ministry has put necessary machinery in motion to stop the constant bloody clashes between herdsmen and farmers. We have decided we are going to develop massive paddocks across the country.

“What the cows are looking for is grass and water. We have the capacity to grow the grass we want not just any kind of grass but highly nutritive grass for the cows to eat. If it can be done in Kenya, Saudi Arabia, there is no reason why we can’t do it here.

‘’There is sizable provision for grassing at hinterland, by developing water, drilling of boreholes and small dams toirrigate those areas already mapped out. In the process we hope that the cattle herdsmen would have a more stable life.”

Tunami:
na ab0ki people go suffer pass.

wordbank:
Back to sender

GworoChewinMaga:
But you budgeted more for Aso Rock and Misinformation ministry than Agricultural?

Keystonn:
don't mind them
Bubu is a fraud

blueto:


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/nigeriansll-starve-to-death-by-2050-if-presidency/

wordbank:
Back to sender

dearpreye:


Nothing like back to sender. Nigerians will surely pass through hell if we don't take proactive and very drastic measures to produce enough food for ourselves and control our unnecessarily increasing population which will become a time bomb by 2050. That's just 34 years from now.

The leadership of the nation, irrespective of the religious differences, MUST start to campaign for birth control as a means of controlling our threatening population. It's a risk for an import - dependent country to have a huge population. That's a disaster waiting to happen. We are drifting in a dangerous direction.

It's time for the government to support our local farmers with the right equipment and tools. Subsistence farming is no longer fashionable and enough.

We must start reducing/regulating our population.

Lalasticalala, good morning.

Progressive01:
Exactly what I tried to tell him in fewer words. Good we have opposition supporters still thinking like living breathing human beings.

Long time. How've you guys been?

dearpreye:


The truth Should have no opposition...and there's limit to being in the opposition.

The leader made a strong case for round year farming that should be encouraged by all governors. The future is bleak given our economic indices.

I've been fine .....just came back from a ban.....That was why I couldn't respond to your mention on the Wike supreme court victory.

Progressive01:
That's okay. Havnt been around also. Had a lengthy report to produce so I steered clear the madhouse for about a week.

Planning to retire soon. . Things are getting a lot busier in the real world, don't wanna be caught napping.

mrphysics:
The presidency is very correct. it is crystal clear, visible to the blind, audible to the deaf. For the last 16 years, we failed to diversify our economy.


thank God for this administration. Let's empower agriculture and technology.