DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, U.S.BASED DON ABIODUN RAUFU ADVISES TINUBU
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As majority of Nigerians struggle to feed themselves amid acute food shortage and rising prices of food, President Bola Tinubu has been advised to declare a state of emergency in the agricultural sector and lead the agricultural revolution in Nigeria by actively engaging in farming along with other innovative policies that will ensure food sufficiency in the country.
While acknowledging the recent announcement by the federal government to engage in massive food import, Professor Abiodun Raufu, a former editor of Nigerian Tribune and an Assistant Professor at Southern University and A&M College in Louisiana, USA said food import is just a stop-gap measure, arguing that a state of emergency would allow for the mobilization of resources and enable the government to implement swift and comprehensive measures to address the immediate needs of farmers, restore damaged farmlands, improve security in the rural areas and introduce modern agricultural practices that can withstand future challenges.
Professor Raufu while commending the president for directing that all arable military land across the country should be cultivated said tackling the challenge of food security is a task that requires the involvement of all Nigerians beginning with the president who must lead by engaging in some form of agriculture himself.
According to Professor Raufu, the First lady, Mrs Remi Tinubu has done by showing his garden farm but the symbolism associated with the president also engaging in some sort of farming in his spare time can be so powerful and capable of encouraging Nigerians to embrace agriculture at different levels, backyard farming in this difficult period, particularly at this time of the year when rain is in abundance.
“A country like Nigeria with large expanse of arable and fertile land should not be complaining about food shortage and hunger, when countries like Israel and even the United States with less fertile land produces food in excess. With the right agricultural policies and leadership, we should be talking about preservation of excess agricultural produce and its exportation, Professor Raufu said. “Since difficult times requires un-usual solutions, I will go as far as also suggesting that all political leaders at all levels should also lead by example by engaging in some level of farming to encourage people to join in warding off the hunger and starvation that majority of Nigerians are currently experiencing.
According to Professor Raufu, the government at all levels can tackle the problem of food insecurity through a multi-faceted approach using the local government authorities as the pivot for agricultural revolution by investing heavily in farm machineries, rural development, massive introduction of high yield seeds among other ideas.
