The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Federal College of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Kolawole Adebayo, has suggested the federal government to redesign and fortify the rural extension machine to allow Nigerian farmers to maximize alternatives for larger meals manufacturing.
Talking on Saturday on the first reunion yearly of the 1986 eager of the College of Ife Faculty of Agriculture, now the Federal Faculty of Agriculture, Akure, held on the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Adebayo expressed fear over the leisure of presidency aid clear of authentic farmers.
Turning in a lecture titled “Networking Through Alumni Association for Entrepreneurial Opportunities and Development”, Adebayo decried the overlook of actual farmers, stressing the will for focused interventions.
“Nigerian farmers have a comparative advantage that no other country can compete with, but the real farmers are taken for granted,” he mentioned.
He lamented that many authentic farmers are too busy with their paintings to pursue executive advantages, including: “Even when opportunities arise, they are often misdirected to those who are not genuine farmers.”
Adebayo referred to as at the executive to deploy agricultural extension officials at once to farms instead than depending on bureaucratic processes.
“Unfortunately, the extension system has been watered down. The government must strengthen it to achieve meaningful impact,” he added.
He additionally criticised the reliance on imported rice all the way through classes of meals shortages.
“When our leaders imported rice to address hunger, who grew that rice? If Nigerian farmers had been contracted to produce it, with proper extension support, they would have benefited, and the economy would have been strengthened,” he mentioned.
Former Commissioner for Agriculture in Ondo Situation and fellow alumnus of the varsity, Dr. Samson Odedina, echoed Adebayo’s sentiments.
He underscored the worth of supporting farmers in any respect ranges to give a boost to meals safety.
“Support for farmers globally is non-negotiable. It is critical to ensuring food security and boosting the economy,” Odedina mentioned.
He prompt younger Nigerians to discover alternatives in agriculture, emphasising its profitability and doable.
Odedina additionally suggested the federal government to seek the advice of seasoned professionals instead than depending on superficial wisdom from on-line resources to assemble the sphere.