The Chairman, Board of Directors, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress party, Chief Pius Akinyelure, weekend asked Nigerians to embrace farming to address the challenge of food crisis in the country.
Akinyelure who was honoured alongside others by the Idanre Development Assembly, IDA during its 2024 award ceremony, spoke on proffering solutions to the food crisis in the country.
He noted during the ceremony held at ldanre, an agrarian community, that, for “the country to achieve food sufficiency and overcome the present hardship, youths and other Nigerians must go back to farm.
He also urged youths to go back to the farm in order to become self-reliant and fight poverty, unemployment and boost the socio-economic development of the country.
While stressing the importance of farming, Akinyelure said that refusing to go back to the farm will result in importing food while the nation is blessed with lands that flow with milk and honey.
“If we don’t go back to the farm, where will we get food? We will be importing and the cost of importation is too high.
“So the only way out is to go back to the farm, make sure there is security for the farmers so that they are not driven away from their farm and then we can have enough food to feed our nation”.
“I want my people and other Nigerians to know that farming is the only common activity one can do to sustain living.
“No society can live comfortably without agriculture; agriculture is the major source of livelihood of every family, nation and its importance cannot be overemphasised to the development of any society.
“Apart from ensuring food security, farming also provides job opportunities and boosts the revenue of the state and the country at large.
He called on farmers to familiarise themselves with modern technologies for mass production of farm produce for the sustainability of food security.
“The modern equipment will give people access to engage in large-scale modern agriculture, as we cannot continue to use cutlasses and hoes”, he added.
Akinyelure appealed to state and federal governments to assist farmers to encourage them in order to boost agriculture and ensure food security in the state, by supporting farmers with mechanised farming equipment.
“State governments should assist and advise local councils to purchase agricultural implements for farmers to hire.
According to him, he would engage the governor of Ondo state to make farming attractive through distribution of farm input, fertilisers, tractors and other things to encourage farmers.
On security, Akinyelure said that adequate security should be provided to ensure that farmers are able to cultivate their farm in peace and are not driven away from their farm.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, urged the indigenous sons and daughters of the state to always plan towards contributing to the development of their towns.
Those honoured alongside Akinyelure, include the Late Chief Gabriel Akin Deko, Late Prince Afolabi Ayinuola, Retired Honourable Justice Sunday Akintan, and Chief Mrs. Omolara Ogomudia.
