Monarch Calls For Agric Reactivation

Given that the main
stay of Nigeria’s economy is oil, a farmer has called on the governmet to de- emphasise oil as the main source of revenue.
While speaking to our correspondent in an exclusive interview, the farmer, who is also the paramount ruler of Igboama Ogbogolo in the Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State, Geofrey Ikogha, said the possibility of oil drying up should never be toyed with.
According to him, before the oil boom, some of the regions used the natural agricultural resources at their disposal to develop their region.
Chief Ikogha recalled the groundnut pyramids of the north, the cocoa and timber in the West, Coal in the East and Palm Produce in the South.
He said when the regions used agriculture as their living mainstay, there was nothing like youth restiveness and cultism.
Explaining further, he said, every home that the father and mother were farmers, the children authomatically followed suit.
He said it was that family knit farming arrangement that engaged the children and eventually dawned on them that if they didn’t go to farm, there would be no food for them.
He said while Cocoa gave the Yorubas the historical Cocoa house, the groundnut pyramids built industries for the north and palm produce built oil mills and produced boards for the South among others, the same could not be said about oil.
He expressed the hope that if a true federalism structure comes on board, agriculture would once again become the  thing.
He expressed that when true federalism finally returns, the various regions would have no choice but exploit those things that they have comparative advantage.

Minister of State for Agriculture, Mrs Asabe Ahmed (middle) presenting starter packs to Mrs Martha Daos, one of the beneficiaries of the packs for aquaculture and poultry production after their training in Abuja, yesterday. With them is Permanent Secretary, Mrs Ibukun Odusote (left).