Dapo Akinrefon
23 May 2008
Lagos — IN its resolve to ensure adequate food provision in the state, the Imo State executive council meeting, recently gave the nod for some South African farmers to commence the agricultural projects throughout the state.
Having been sworn-in last May, the Imo State government has prioritized agriculture as an area it tends to sufficiently delve into for the benefit of people of the state.
To the state governor, Mr. Ikedi Ohakim posits that for life to be sustained, agriculture must be properly looked into.
Perhaps, Ikedi's motive behind this initiative is not far from his Clean and Green project which tends to return the state to its former glory. 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.
Only recently, the Imo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Water Resources, Chief Longers Anyanwu noted during a visit of the South African farmers that it was in consonance with the on-going effort by the state government to make agriculture a commercial venture in the state. Accordingly, Anyanwu said the initiative could not have come at a better time than now that global food crisis seems to be on the rampage.
One of the South African partners, Mr. Tobie Vesser, enthused by detailing the profile of their company Leader, which he said is into full commercial agriculture. He described farming as a serious and profitable business that requires all the attention needed.
While using India as an example, he explained that there are over 600,000 farmers involved in agriculture and China was not left out.
"But what bothers me", he argued, "is when you go to Africa and you find small scale farmers". Going down memory lane, the South African 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 posited.
According to him, "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. Leader company does consultancy for farmers."
On the need to encourage farming in the South East region, Vesser noted that the Igbos have conquered trading in today's Nigeria even as he urged them to do same in the area of farming because of the opportunities that abound.
His words: "This is the time to do it because agriculture is every time constraint, illustrating such timeliness with the importance of breakfast. 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".
Aside, he stressed the importance of finance, pointing out resounding and profitable agriculture must be well funded. Highlighting his company's resolve to change a lot of things in the farming system in Nigeria and make it work, citing specifically, the psyche of some farmers who are used to free things.
In embarking on commercial farming, 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, he 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 aquaculture as well as the will to improve.
In his response, Ohakim, 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.
The Imo boss, however, said significant success has been recorded in many other areas of the state's economy except for agriculture which he maintained is bent on bringing back to its pride of place. The governor who agreed with Vesser that agriculture was the in-thing 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.
He said "but along the line, oil came and things changed. But this has to stop."
Ohakim said state government's intention now is the need to begin re-orientating 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.
Said he, "We are in a big mess already and there is nothing we can do but to move on; the new agriculture would provide the information to combat poverty. And we are prepared to move on".
Ohakim further assured availability of land owing to the new tax regime, which he said 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.
While giving his nod to the project, the governor said "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".
Given the Nigerian situation, it is yet to be seen how well the project would be driven successfully to shores given the inadequacies and distractions that would naturally attend it.
It therefore expected that failure is not an option as far as the project is concerned on the part of the government.
Only time will tell how far this marriage will last.
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