…laments that over 80% of the population still uses obsolete farming tools
Caption:Chief Bisi Akande
The Pro-chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Ibadan, Chief Adebisi Akande CFR, has urged all educational institutions, investors to collaborate with State governments to establish Farming- villages in every local govt. with a view to attracting young graduates into agriculture.
Akande stated this at the 76th Foundation Day Anniversary and 2024 Convocation Ceremonies of the University of Ibadan held on Monday.
Akande, who spoke on the theme, “The Universities and the Farmers” said that the multiplier effects of this move would result in the innovative fabrication of modern farming implements, “in the illustration of practical demonstration of the essence of academic institutions in using sciences, technologies and management techniques for the promotion of plenteous nutritional agricultural yields and in the attractiveness of business investments in profitable agro-allied industries among the generality of our society”
According to Akande, whose speech was read on his behalf by Acting Pro Chancellor,Hon Nelson Alapa, man’s first main occupation has been farming specifically for the production of the food he eats, provides the material for the construction of his house, the herbs for the treatment of his health challenges, among other things.
“Hence man meets his basic needs from his efforts in farming. Therefore man is the first and foremost the producer and consumer, it is only when there are surpluses over and above his immediate needs that he keeps something apart for his secondary objective, which is to assist him in building the capital necessary for his future productions”, said Akande.
Akande laments that 80% of the population still uses farming tools such as hoes and cutlasses which were fashioned in the shapes now variably prevalent in our different cultures and is said to be obsolete.
“Any wonder then that the Nigerian youths are not enthusiastic in undertaking the drudgery of using such archaic farm implements”.he declared.
Speaking further he said, “any wonder therefore that our people are now hungry and starving? And where are the impacts of the Nigerian educational systems, up to the University level, in all these deficits in the types of Nigerian farmers’ affordable tools and in the production innovations in agriculture that now make the farmers poverty ridden and the citizenry hungry?”
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Akande however says that does this imply that there is a disconnects between the Nigerian Universities and the Nigerian Agriculture that farmers are incapable of feeding our Nation.
Akande however advocates for collaboration of Educational institutions together with each state to establish Farming-Villages in every local government with a view to attracting young graduates into agriculture.
