Agriculture
Social Disorder: Expert outline Causes; Task Leaders
An Agricultural expert Sir Sam Korie has outlined some of the social disorders facing the various communities in Nigeria and tasked the government to ensure that smallholder farmers are supported and provided with incentives to produce enough food for the populace.
Sir Korie who was a Guest of the May edition of the Ezumezu Isinweke Virtual Summit identified food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition, Poverty and unemployment, Poor health situations, burden of chronic disease restricted access to quality health care, lack of public transportation, poor infrastructure, low educational attainment, low health literacy, as some of the major factors.
He said that Agriculture plays a major role in tackling some of these challenges. “Asides from the known fact that if you do not eat adequately, you will suffer serious health issues. There is an increasing rate of child malnutrition in our communities. Children are no longer able to eat food in the right quantity and quality and the effect is the onset of nutrition-related diseases stunted growth and, in severe condition, kwashiorkor, beriberi and many others. Many of us would have been taller if we ate good food as children.
There is a correlation between malnutrition and child mental development. For children, the early formative years especially between 0 to 9 years of age are critical and if they are exposed to malnutrition, it will most likely lead to poor mental development. For a child to grow up smart, he/she needs good food.
For pregnant and nursing mothers who are malnourished, the impact is also on the children when they are born as they come out with low birth weight. A breastfeeding mother can only give quality breast milk if she eats right. Access to good food is the right of everyone” he emphasized.
The expert who is internationally renowned in Agriculture and Rural Development further revealed that the scourge of unemployment affects the youths the more, because of the neglects of the rural areas, leading to youths seeking greener pastures in major cities.
” The young men and women in our society are between the ages 18 to 35 years. The times are hard and difficult to get decent-paying jobs for these young people, and you know the saying about ‘’An idle hand is the devil’s workshop’’.
When young people are unable to get employed or decent wages, they either do any of these two things which are – to engage in criminal activities, or to migrate to bigger cities in search of opportunities that are difficult to come in this era. Our youths do not want to stay in the rural communities any longer as it does not appeal to their social needs. Why can’t agriculture be the solution to this problem of unemployment as it has been in many advanced countries?
If you take a census of the farmers in our communities, you will discover that over 70 percent of them are above 60 years of age. Our farmers are old and are less vibrant now compared to their youthful days especially with their reliance on crude tools and practices. Why are our young people no longer interested in agriculture?
When you ask a young man or woman to ascribe a word or phrase to agriculture, you will hear – stressful, drudgery, unattractive, dirty, time-wasting, poverty and many other negativities. In many modern societies today, they have or are changing the narrative to the opposite of these words. They have introduced what they call the value chain concept where agriculture does not stop on the farm alone, rather they have created opportunities in storage, processing, packaging, branding, marketing and distribution, and ultimately, the consumers’ consumption on the table”.
He challenged the government at various levels to ensure that the communities are as favourable and habitable compared to the outside urban communities by providing basic amenities such as water, electricity, basic and modern health care facilities, good housing, schools and even security. “If our villages have all these things, why would anyone want to leave to places like Lagos only to end up selling recharge cards” he concluded.
Ezumezu Isinweke is the Apex sociocultural association of Ihitte/Uboma people in Imo State.
Agriculture
Group Trains 600 Bauchi Women In Modern Farm Skills
By Rakyat Liadi
The Nisa’u Sunnah, a faith-based group, has trained 600 women in modern farming skills in Bauchi State.
Hajiya Rakiya Dabo, the Group Lead, said this at the end of a 3-day training exercise for sustainable agric development on Tuesday in Bauchi.
According to her, the exercise is being conducted in collaboration between the group and Jama’atul Izalatul Bidi’a Waikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS).
She said the training exercise was designed to equip women with the skills to improve farming activities and contribute to the state’s economic growth.
“Women play a vital role in the development of our communities, and it is essential that we provide them with the necessary tools and support to succeed,” she said.
In a presentation, Dr Ibrahim Disina, said Muslim women were the backbone of the society, adding that their contributions to the economy and social development cannot be overstated.
He advised the participants to utilise the skills learnt to improve their talents and economic growth for the benefit of the society.
Prof. Zubairu Madaki, Chairman of the JIBWIS in the state, lauded the gesture, and enjoined the beneficiaries to respect their husbands in line with Islamic perspectives.
“As women, you have a critical role to play in maintaining harmony in the home and promoting peaceful co-existence in the community,” he said.
He also encouraged them to utilise the ideas shared during the training for a better future.
“The knowledge and skills you have acquired are not only for your personal benefit but also for the benefit of your families and communities,” he said.
Aisha Mohammed, one of the participants, lauded the gesture and promised to step down the skills in her community.
“I am grateful for this opportunity, and I’m committed to sharing my newfound skills with other women in my community.”
The participants were drawn from 20 local government areas of the state.
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