allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Giving Commercial Farming New Meaning (Page 1 of 2)

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For instance, last year, as if he knew of the now lingering global food crisis, Ohakim was said to have withdrawn thousands of metric tonnes of rice from the market and ordered that they be kept for contingency reasons.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.

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