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| Mr Ita Idaresit |
The system of land acquisition for farming in Nigeria
needs to be overhauled if grassroots and large scale agriculture is to
thrive in Nigeria.
This was the view shared by a veteran farmer and Calabar based agro-services provider,Mr Ita Idaresit in an exclusive interview in Lagos.
“Nigeria is back to agriculture,laudable,but has anybody ever thought of the limited lands for enterprising farmers especially in rural areas?There are lots of land in the rural villages that are not put into productive use.If Government can explore the villages, visit the traditional rulers and dialogue with them on the need for their lands for agriculture, they would oblige for compensations especially if the long term benefits for their communities are spelt out properly.”
“After this is achieved, the elderly in the community and the enterprising rural dwellers would be then empowered to execute various agricultural projects as would be assigned to them”
According to Idaresit, the land allocations need not be to the indigents only but to people across the region who are proven farmers and can turn seeds into harvest.
” There are people in the villages we call ‘born farmers’. They usually do not have formal training in agriculture or even the use of modern equipment but they can be magical in large scale farming.For example, I traveled for over 40 kilometers form Calabar to Okut Ikang Basin Farms in Odukpani L.G.A. Imagine the distance covered to go and farm and I remeber the success achieved those days”
Idaresit who spoke fondly of his experience in the Green Revolution days of former President Shehu Shagari was of the conclusion that if government needs to achieve practical reality in the renewed attention on agriculture, the physical realities should be distinguished from mere policies and lip service approaches.
Source- AgroNigeria
This was the view shared by a veteran farmer and Calabar based agro-services provider,Mr Ita Idaresit in an exclusive interview in Lagos.
“Nigeria is back to agriculture,laudable,but has anybody ever thought of the limited lands for enterprising farmers especially in rural areas?There are lots of land in the rural villages that are not put into productive use.If Government can explore the villages, visit the traditional rulers and dialogue with them on the need for their lands for agriculture, they would oblige for compensations especially if the long term benefits for their communities are spelt out properly.”
“After this is achieved, the elderly in the community and the enterprising rural dwellers would be then empowered to execute various agricultural projects as would be assigned to them”
According to Idaresit, the land allocations need not be to the indigents only but to people across the region who are proven farmers and can turn seeds into harvest.
” There are people in the villages we call ‘born farmers’. They usually do not have formal training in agriculture or even the use of modern equipment but they can be magical in large scale farming.For example, I traveled for over 40 kilometers form Calabar to Okut Ikang Basin Farms in Odukpani L.G.A. Imagine the distance covered to go and farm and I remeber the success achieved those days”
Idaresit who spoke fondly of his experience in the Green Revolution days of former President Shehu Shagari was of the conclusion that if government needs to achieve practical reality in the renewed attention on agriculture, the physical realities should be distinguished from mere policies and lip service approaches.
Source- AgroNigeria
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