AGRICULTURE AS ALTERNATIVE TO OIL AND GAS, THE ABIA EXAMPLE, Nwosu
BY UCHE NWOSU
Shoe week
AGRICULTURE AS ALTERNATIVE TO OIL AND GAS, THE ABIA EXAMPLE
It was Francis Bacon, an English philosopher, who posited in 16th century that “Men in great places are thrice servants: servants of the Sovereign or State; servants of Fame; and servants of Business”.
Certainly, men of power who devote their time in looking beyond the ordinary and the spoils of office are servants of posterity and history. History beckons on he, who at a perilous time, comes in as the game changer and touch bearer. At this time when the Abia state economy is in dire need of diversification following the dwindling of the nation’s economy, Abia needs the right leadership that could radically diversify its economy and create employment. And I believe that we have gotten it now, given the commitment to move the state to the next level of development by its present leadership.
Indeed, one of the surest ways of boosting the economy of the state and creating employment is by laying genuine emphasis on agriculture. This is because apart from providing enough food for consumption and export, the reinvigoration and reenergizing of agriculture will produce cash crops that will yield foreign exchange and also create employment.
It was against this background that the declaration by the Abia state government that it will soon send 40 young farmers from the state to the Songhai agricultural training institute in Porto Novo, Republic of Benin was received with contentment. It is indeed the right course towards rapidly improving the Abia economy. Apart from sending them to Songhai Centre, it is also in the programme of the government to ensure that they get the necessary loan facilities, farm implements and seedlings to take off on return from the Songhai Centre.
Songhai Agricultural Centre named after Father Godfrey Nzamujo, its facilitator was created 20 years ago in Benin Republic to train farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs and business men and women on how to improve their farm yields and make adequate profit. From the beginning, the centre has focused on developing a model of agro biological production and functional training in agricultural entrepreneurship.
The institution promotes sustainable development through youth entrepreneurship aimed at setting an extension stage for viable socio economic models. In fact, the centre has contributed to the dynamic economic development in African continent through its strategy of erecting green rural towns in each agro-ecological area in the territory of Benin Republic.
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s recent disclosure that his government has evolved a policy that will make agriculture and five other key sectors of the economy, such as small and medium scale enterprises (with emphasis on leather production), oil and gas, commerce and industry and technological advancement, the centre peace of its economic development is cheering.
They are the key economic sectors which the state plans to pursue genuinely and with vigor. Conversely, if the right policies and the desired impartation are provided to the genuine players in these sectors, Abia within the next four years will be a strong economic destination.
Reasons for failures of economic policies in the past are because the initiators of the polices lack the vision, seriousness and commitment to drive them to logical conclusions. What the Songhai Centre will achieve for Abia state is immense; it will train the young farmers to have a new vision and the potentials to drive the present day farming away from subsistence. Farming today needs to be mechanized.
Agriculture, being the second largest sector of Abia economy outside oil and gas, needs farmers with capacity, character and competence. What the Abia farmers that will be sent to Songhai would try to acquire is the knowledge that will enable them go beyond the vexatious collection of government’s grants and gifts or loans from the banks and then disappear.
They should also appreciate the fact that obtaining loans from either banks or government is not an opportunity to marry
Shoe week
AGRICULTURE AS ALTERNATIVE TO OIL AND GAS, THE ABIA EXAMPLE
It was Francis Bacon, an English philosopher, who posited in 16th century that “Men in great places are thrice servants: servants of the Sovereign or State; servants of Fame; and servants of Business”.
Certainly, men of power who devote their time in looking beyond the ordinary and the spoils of office are servants of posterity and history. History beckons on he, who at a perilous time, comes in as the game changer and touch bearer. At this time when the Abia state economy is in dire need of diversification following the dwindling of the nation’s economy, Abia needs the right leadership that could radically diversify its economy and create employment. And I believe that we have gotten it now, given the commitment to move the state to the next level of development by its present leadership.
It was against this background that the declaration by the Abia state government that it will soon send 40 young farmers from the state to the Songhai agricultural training institute in Porto Novo, Republic of Benin was received with contentment. It is indeed the right course towards rapidly improving the Abia economy. Apart from sending them to Songhai Centre, it is also in the programme of the government to ensure that they get the necessary loan facilities, farm implements and seedlings to take off on return from the Songhai Centre.
Songhai Agricultural Centre named after Father Godfrey Nzamujo, its facilitator was created 20 years ago in Benin Republic to train farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs and business men and women on how to improve their farm yields and make adequate profit. From the beginning, the centre has focused on developing a model of agro biological production and functional training in agricultural entrepreneurship.
The institution promotes sustainable development through youth entrepreneurship aimed at setting an extension stage for viable socio economic models. In fact, the centre has contributed to the dynamic economic development in African continent through its strategy of erecting green rural towns in each agro-ecological area in the territory of Benin Republic.
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s recent disclosure that his government has evolved a policy that will make agriculture and five other key sectors of the economy, such as small and medium scale enterprises (with emphasis on leather production), oil and gas, commerce and industry and technological advancement, the centre peace of its economic development is cheering.
They are the key economic sectors which the state plans to pursue genuinely and with vigor. Conversely, if the right policies and the desired impartation are provided to the genuine players in these sectors, Abia within the next four years will be a strong economic destination.
Reasons for failures of economic policies in the past are because the initiators of the polices lack the vision, seriousness and commitment to drive them to logical conclusions. What the Songhai Centre will achieve for Abia state is immense; it will train the young farmers to have a new vision and the potentials to drive the present day farming away from subsistence. Farming today needs to be mechanized.
Agriculture, being the second largest sector of Abia economy outside oil and gas, needs farmers with capacity, character and competence. What the Abia farmers that will be sent to Songhai would try to acquire is the knowledge that will enable them go beyond the vexatious collection of government’s grants and gifts or loans from the banks and then disappear.
They should also appreciate the fact that obtaining loans from either banks or government is not an opportunity to marry
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