[size=18pt]Diversification: Oyo and its agricultural initiatives
[/size]

When the present administration in the country under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari came into power on May 29, last year, one of the promises it made to Nigerians was to diversify the economy from the dependence on oil, no thanks to the dwindling revenue accruing from its major export earner – oil. For many, the government cannot afford to do otherwise, given the fact that the nation had found itself in a terrible economic strait such that what the nation is earning as income cannot meet its expenditure and the demand for forex far outweighs supply. This was not to be limited to the federal government alone with most, if not all the states, finding it difficult to survive and pay salaries of their workers. Thus to get out of the negative effects the economic crisis in the country is having on the people of Oyo State, the state government, under the leadership of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, in less than a week organised two consultative assemblies to brainstorm on the revival of its agriculture potential as an alternative source of revenue. The first consultative assembly held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, State Secretariat, Ibadan, was attended by prominent traditional leaders in the state that include the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III; the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; the Aseyin of Iseyin and Eleruwa of Eruwa as well as caretaker committee chairmen of all the 33 local government areas of the state. Ajimobi, while speaking on the rationale behind the meeting, decried the negative effects of the dwindling economy across the country where the state that receives N5 billion in the past now receives about N2 billion. According to him, with this kind of situation, the state did not have any other option than to go back to the root which is agriculture.



While pointing out that the state which has about 28,555 km square metres, more than six times of Lagos State, more than seven times of arable farmlands in Imo State and with the highest number of agricultural research institutes in the country such as IITA, CRIN, NIHORT and NISER among others, the governor maintained that Oyo State be the true basket of the South-West sub-region of the country. He called on traditional rulers, civil servants, students, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to, as a matter of concern, support the move of the government in generating more money in this era of fall in oil price. The governor then declared that about 100 hectares of farmlands will be acquired in each of the 28 out of the 33 local government areas of the state to ensure that the state is fully involved in agriculture. At the second consultative assembly held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), top officials of agriculture research institutes, finance institutions, agro-allied business investors and other stakeholders, also brainstormed on the revival of agriculture potential as alternative source of revenue. Governor Ajimobi was joined at the forum by the Director-General of the IITA, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga; Director, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Prof. James Adediran.



Also in attendance at the event tagged “AgricOyo” were top officials of the Cocoa Research Institute, National Horticultural Research Institute, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Central Bank of Nigeria, among others. Indeed, it was an opportunity for corporate investors, agro-input companies, banks, agricultural technology fabricators, commodity associations, agriculture research institutes, federal agriculture and development agencies and potential investors in the agriculture value chain to offer ideas on how to chart a new path for the sector in the state. [size=18pt]The governor, while speaking at the event, stressed that the target of the state was to harness the agriculture potential of the state with the ultimate ambition of becoming the food basket of the South- West, Nigeria in the short run and West Africa in the long run[/size]. The governor, while maintaining that the state had the largest arable land in the Southern part of the country and human resources, which gave it comparative advantage over many other states, called for attitudinal change among the people.

He advised that the people of the state must work hard to survive instead of relying on prayers alone to provide their needs. His words: “Now that oil, which is the major source of economy of Nigeria has crashed, the government and our people should put to maximum use the available landmass, physical infrastructure and clean environment to invite investors for the economic growth of the country. Nigeria is now at crossroads, because even our strategic reserve is nothing to write home about.



Oil is our largest source of income in Nigeria, but it has crashed due to oil glut in the international market. “We are very lucky in Oyo State. Out of our 33 local governments, 28 are agrarian. So, what Lagos State has in water, Oyo State has in land. We need to harness these through the agriculture value chain to revive our economy.” The DG of IITA, in his remarks, said it was lamentable that young people were no longer interested in farming due to the hostile environment. He stated that as a researcher in one of the farms in the state, he discovered that majority of those engaging in farming nowadays were old people and children, which he said portended danger for the future of farming in the country. He then pledged the commitment and support of IITA for the agriculture initiative of the state, which he said had the wherewithal to feed the country comfortably. His words: “As a researcher I discovered that only old people and children are left in the farm, not only in Nigeria, but across Africa. I’m afraid of what will happen to agric in the next ten years if this trend continues. “Young graduates come to IITA every Friday of the month to be engaged as casual labourers and you will be shocked to know that some of them are graduates of reputable institutions. We only pay an equivalent of $3 per day and they still besiege us.



“We had to change their mindsets and give them fresh orientation. Today, some of them have embraced agriculture. I’m proud to present to you today a female lawyer and a male economist among the beneficiaries of this initiative who are today doing very well.” The Director of IAR and T lauded the initiative of the governor, which he said was the first time top agric researchers and other stakeholders would be assembled to offer suggestions and their expertise on any agriculture development in the state. Adediran said, “No such forum has happened in the last 30 years where directors of institutes of research would gather like this to discuss the future of agriculture in Oyo State. This paradigm shift is a welcome development and I want to pledge the support of IAR and T and all of us here. “The research institutes have done everything possible to improve the lot of farmers in Oyo State. We have been working hard to see to the improvement of agricultural production, techniques, pushing out of end products to the markets. “On behalf of all the research institutes here present, I pledge our support to the government of the state, because your success is our success. We are ready for strategic partnership with you.

We will stand by you to ensure that this project succeeds.” For the investors that were present, the new agriculture initiative was a welcome development as an agriculture entrepreneur, Mr. Babs Aina, pledged an initial investment of $30m. Aina, the Managing Director of Numerix Development Limited, who promised that the figure would progressively increase to $100m in the next few years, said the investment would target maize and soya beans in the interim. Other investors that pledged commitment to the initiative were the Managing Director of Winchester Farms Limited, Ibadan, who is also the Managing Director of Costain West Africa Plc., Mr. Ayodeji Karim; and the Chief Executive Officer of Psaltry International Limited, Mrs. Yetunde Iranloye.


Source



Oyo Agric: http://www.oysai.com.ng/

mynd44
lalasticala

Seems that the SW is waking up. This economical wahala is a blessing in disguise.
Diversification is the lock. Agriculture is one of its keys.


Yoruba folklore:
Ise Agbe ni ise ile wa,
Eni ko sise, ama ja’le.

Iwe kiko, lai si oko,
KOI PE O! KOI PE O!!!


English version
Agriculture is out ancestral occupation,
He who does not work, will steal.

Education, without agricultural practices,
IS NOT COMPLETE! IS NOT COMPLETE!!!

Let's all go to work.

Flexherbal:
Let's all go to work.

Cool.

Here is the website to register. Every Yorubaman interested in economic development of the SW and in agriculture needs to work and get involved.

Oyo Agric: http://www.oysai.com.ng/

Hmmmm ok