Afe Babalola (SAN), the founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, and Legal Luminary, has commended the call for mechanised farming in the country by President Bola Tinubu, News About Nigeria reports.
The Octogenarian stated this while noting that the intention of the President to make Nigeria a major food exporter through aggressive mechanised farming, is one the country needs at a time like this.
He noted that he has been an advocate of mechanised agriculture for several decades while encouraging farmers in the state to engage in agriculture and invest in the trade, as it is one sector that can revolutionise the economy.
“I established the Agricultural Expo every October for more than 10 years. The Agric Expo is attended by most farmers from all 16 local governments in Ekiti State. Our teachers go around their farms and encourage and advise them. We also established a plantation for seedlings. The best farmer in Ekiti is given an award of N2 million, and the best in each local government also goes home with N1 million. Other awards also range from N100,000 to N500,000.”
He further disclosed that he champions an establishment, the Youth Empowerment Centre, where graduates and other unemployed youths are housed and trained for three months, adding that those who pass the final examination are usually given the sum of N250,000 as seed money, seedlings, and other equipment to enable them to start their own farms, which include fisheries, poultry, piggery, snailry, and so on.
He, however, noted that it has become difficult for most Nigerians to utilise their farming experience as very few Nigerians can purchase heavy and expensive agricultural implements, particularly in this time of Naira depreciation.
He therefore called on the Federal Government to advise local governments to use their Federal Monthly Allocation to buy these expensive agricultural implements.
“The Federal Government can also assist in making a special allocation to local governments to assist them in the purchase of this equipment,” he added.
