QUESTION 9 OF 23 PRESIDING QUESTIONS FOR 2023 PRESIDENTIAL QUESTS: THEIR AMBITIONS VERSUS OUR CONVICTIONS
Is it possible to ensure agricultural
revolution in Nigeria without commensurate physical amenities that support
farming and its allied activities? Infrastructure is the bedrock of a robust
agriculture chain in any nation; studies have shown this. Commercial farming
has also outgrown the consideration for cutlasses and hoes and embraced massive
infrastructural upgrade of its entire value chain.
The 3 tiers of government – Federal, State
and Local, haven’t been intentional and strategic about the provision of irrigation
systems, mechanized farmland implements, agro-storage facilities (intra-towns
and around airports & seaports), agro-cargo train cabins and rural roads
linking farms to external places (for seamless grains, plants, livestock &
dairy evacuation), well-planned agricultural produce markets in all localities
and agro-allied industries.
Our next President in 2023 would have to work
closely with the 36 State Governments, 774 Local Government Area Councils,
private sector and multilateral organizations to facilitate the provision and
access to these moribund or non-existent infrastructure across the entire
agriculture value chain in order to ensure food sufficiency for local
consumption and earn significant foreign exchange from agriculture. How
important is this recommended agricultural infrastructure revamp come 2023?
a. a. It’s very important
b. b. It’s trivial
c. c. 21st century agriculture does not
require such critical thinking of infrastructure
Dr. Adetolu Ademujimi is a Medical Doctor, Author, Reformer, Coach and Public Policy expert who wrote in from Akure in Nigeria. Email: ademujimi@yahoo.co.uk; Twitter: @toluademujimi; Instagram: @adetoluademujimi; Linkedin: @adetolu ademujimi
It's very important.
ReplyDeleteHowever, i suggest that a point or two on the provision of new, and/or maintenance of existing storage facilities for food products should be added to this discussion.
Before oil was discovered the main source of Nigeria earnings was from Agriculture products
ReplyDeleteThe Agric village of Old can be upgraded and massive infrastructural should be embarked upon as suggested fir food sufficiency and for foreign exchange earnings.