Lagos — As part of its resolve to embark on commercial agriculture in order to enhance food sufficiency both in the state and country at large, the Imo State government recently gave the go-ahead to some South African farmers billed to kick start the project. Olawale Olaleye writes on an initiative expected to change the face of farming in the country

Since assumption of office May last year, the Imo State government has clearly marked out agriculture as one key area it intends to sufficiently explore to the benefit of its people. Agriculture, to Governor Ikedi Ohakim means life and if life must be sustained, so the success of agriculture is sacrosanct.

This, perhaps, is the reason the Imo State government adopted Clean and Green as its signature tune. And at every given opportunity, Ohakim is believed to have consistently exhibited initiatives that suggest the pro-activity of his administration in every sphere of the state's socio-political economy, of which agriculture is not an exception.

For instance, last year, as if he knew of the now lingering global food crisis, Ohakim was said to have withdrawn thousands of metric tonnes of rice from the market and ordered that they be kept for contingency reasons. Today, as a result of this initiative, Imo State is said not to be in the know or feel of food crisis. That is the kind of approach the governor is said to have embraced in tackling state issues and at all levels.

However, last week, a major leap was taken into account in the sphere of agriculture. Perhaps, it was a decision time for the government of Ohakim. That the move is also coming at this time, again, is believed to have signaled the fact that government may be thinking far ahead in policy-making and execution.

In addition, the governor appointed a man who is not only capable, but competent to successfully spear-head the much touted agriculture revolution in the state. To be known as Agri-nova, the project name is derived from Latin word which translates to New Agriculture. The entire concept is meant to precipitate a sustainable agric business in the state.

Laying the template for the extra-ordinary council meeting to commence, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Water Resources, Chief Longers Anyanwu noted that the visit of the South African farmers is part of the on-going effort by the state government to make agriculture a commercial venture in the state. And for them, Anyanwu said the initiative could not have come at a better time than now that global food crisis seems to be on the rampage. Anyanwu was not going to make any long speech since the farmers were expected to do a presentation that would either approve or disapprove of their mission in the state. And so, Mr. Tobie Vesser, one of the South African partners, took the floor.

He described farming as a serious and profitable business that requires all the attention it needed. In India and China for instance, he said there are over six hundred thousand farmers. "But what bothers me", he told the state executive council, "is when you go to Africa and you find small scale farmers". Unfortunately, this, he claimed was not the case with Nigeria in time past. Recalling the colonial days, Vesser said Nigeria was aggressive in agriculture in those days and relied solely on it for survival. But this is no longer the situation. The advent of oil may have foreclosed that, he seems to reason.

"We must stop projecting Africa as bad. We want to put something new in place, even though, the perception of farmers is bad. But we can change that", he said, adding that Leader, his company does consultancy for farmers. While stressing the need to encourage farming in the Eastern part of the country, Vesser noted that the Igbo have conquered trading in today's Nigeria and therefore urged them to do same in the area of farming because of the opportunities that abound.

"This is the time to do it because agriculture is very time constraint," he said. "It's just like breakfast; you have breakfast only in the morning. You don't have breakfast in the afternoon or evening. So, agriculture, if it must be done, the time is now," he said.

The South African also stressed the importance of finance, saying resounding and profitable agriculture must be well funded. He spoke of his company's resolve to change a lot of things in the farming system in the country and make it work, citing specifically, the psyche of some farmers who are used to free things.

Vesser said failure is not an option and that if the idea is fully bought into, agric business in the state would be revived for good. He said once the enabling environment is guaranteed and the necessary infrastructure put in place, taking control of situation would not be an issue anymore. And what this would amount to, he added further is poverty elimination through wealth creation.

Having gone round the state and possibly with the help of a bit of research, Vesser said those things his company would have to its advantage as a potential commercial farming outfit in the state include high rain fall, land availability which government has put at several thousands of hectares, soil fertility, availability of labour, proximity to seaport, availability of water, high potential in aqua culture as well as the will to improve.

However, to the disadvantage are such factors as lack of infrastructure, poor land development, lack of skills, lack of commitment and too much rainfall for certain crops. This notwithstanding, Vesser was of the view that the market is large and frightening, adding that there would be no alternative to doing the right thing. With these, he ended his submission.

Impressed by Vesser's presentation, Ohakim, while responding said it has always been the wish of his administration to make agriculture one of its cardinal programmes as enunciated in his 14-point agenda. Fairly enough, he said significant success has been recorded in many other areas of the state's economy except for agriculture which he is bent on bringing back to its pride of place. The governor who agreed with Vesser that agriculture was the main stay in the old Nigeria said it was even the fulcrum on which the Eastern Nigeria revolved. He recalled that it was through self sustenance in farming that former governor, Sir Michael Okpara, was able to put up a lot of structures in the state. "But along the line, oil came and things changed. But this has to stop," the governor said.

Ohakim said what is paramount now is the need to begin to re-orientate the people with a view to buying into the idea of new agriculture. He claimed to have said this because agriculture has been left as the common hobbies of the villagers. "We are in a big mess already and there is nothing we can do but to move on". He said the new agriculture would provide the information to combat poverty. "And we are prepared to move on".

Ohakim also assured of land availability because a new tax regime will be introduced and once communities with lands lying fallow are compelled to pay tax, they would gladly make their land available for the overall public interest. It was on this note that the governor approved of the project, invoking into use, common pastoral sayings at wedding ceremonies. Hear him: "If there is anyone here who for one reason or the other has information why this project should not be given a go-ahead, he should say it now or forever remains quiet". After about three minutes of waiting and there was no response, the governor gave an approval and so, commercial agriculture is set to fully commence operation in the heartland of South-east.

But much as everyone present at the executive council meeting approved of the initiative and they are willing to have the project commence in the overall interest of their people, the commissioner for finance, Chief George Irechekwu alerted of an impending danger that could muster clog in the wheels of the project. He said the only pitfall to the success of the project is if is allowed to be politicised. He held that it is meant to be strictly business and must be addressed as such. Other than that, the finance commissioner was equally excited that his state is taking a giant leap in the world of agriculture.

No doubt, a novel project even though it is not the first of its kind in the country, it however promises to do something different. But given the Nigerian situation, it is yet to be seen how well the project would be driven successfully given the inadequacies and distractions that would naturally attend it.

It therefore behoves of the governor to make sure, like Vesser said, that failure is not an option as far as the project is concerned. Until then, only time will tell whether or not Ohakim will make a difference.