Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has decried non-commitment to agriculture and over-dependence of Nigerians to imported goods.
He warned that if no urgent actions were taken to reverse the dangerous trend, Nigeria would one day begin to import palm wine (a staple local drink) from China.
Uzodinma gave the warning over the weekend, while delivering a pre-convocation lecture at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, MOUAU.
The governor called for conscious and massive investment in agriculture to revamp Nigeria’s crumbling economy.
The Governor regretted that despite Nigeria’s large population size and large arable soil, the country is still struggling to feed her citizens and provide jobs for the youths.
His words: “Any country which cannot feed itself is not indeed sovereign “.
“I’m of the view that agriculture remains the basis for national development and national security “, he added.
He regretted that upon the discovery of crude oil, Nigeria abandoned agriculture which was its mainstay during the pre-independence era.
“We adopted petro-dollar and orphaned agri-dollar”, the Governor lamented, adding that “a volatile commodity like crude oil quickly toppled agriculture as our biggest source of foreign exchange “.
The Governor who was represented by his Commissioner for Education, Professor Victor Nwachukwu, challenged his fellow Governors to adopt late Micheal Okpara’s green revolution and return Nigeria to the era where agriculture contributed the bulk of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.
Uzodinma challenged regional groups like Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the South East Economic Development Fund to mobilise funds strictly for research into modern and efficient food production in Igbo land.
“I’m sure every Igbo man would like to see the return of ehi Igbo (local cow). I would personally want to see the improved and fast growing species of ‘okuko Igbo (local fowls), and ‘ewu Igbo ‘ which are now going extinct. What about our priced asset ‘ngwo’ (raffia palm trees) – that unique tree that produces the best palm wine?
“If we do not do the needful, we will one day be importing palm wine and ‘ugba’ (local delicacy) from China.”
Gov. Uzodinma also challenged the lecturers in universities of Agriculture, charging them to go beyond theoretical classroom work and engage in serious farming.
“How many of you here eat bananas and plantains harvested from your farm?” he queried.
The Governor challenged universities of agriculture to lead in research and innovation, providing basic knowledge and ways of improving the practice of agriculture just like their foreign counterparts.
“Universities can invent and develop new machines and equipment that meet the needs of farmers. But most importantly, our universities of agriculture can train farmers on new farming techniques, such as the use of innovative technologies to improve productivity.”
Gov. Uzodinma who advocated the establishment of agro-processing factories to help process Nigeria’s raw farm produce, argued that it made no economic sense for Nigeria to be exporting cocoa to Europe only to import cocoa products at exorbitant prices.
He said that “a country that achieves success in agriculture will most likely fast-track its national development.”
“A nation that records progress in agriculture will experience a leap in national development through food security, employment generation, particularly in the rural areas, poverty reduction, rural development, sustainable and industrial development, social stability, and finally, trade and foreign exchange earnings.”
“Agriculture is a fundamental pillar for national development influencing economic stability and environmental sustainability”, he added.
He recalled how Malaysia, which came to Nigeria to pick palm fruits not long ago, had since transformed into the world’s leading producer and exporter of palm oil.
He noted that agriculture accounts for 8 per cent of Malaysia’s GDP, and provides employment for 10 % of her workforce.
The Governor said it was shameful that Ukraine, despite being in war for nearly three years, had remained the world’s leading exporter of wheat while Nigeria, at peace time, is struggling to feed her citizens .