25th October, 2016
A lawmaker, Mr. Mohammed Okpede, on Monday in Nasarawa, urged Nigerians to return to farm as a way of quickly addressing the nation’s food crisis.
Okpede, a large-scale farmer, said he cultivated over 90 hectares of land to boost food production in Nasarawa State.
the lawmaker, representing Doma North Constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, while inspecting his farm on Doma/Yelwa road in Doma Local Government area of the state.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who was conducted round the farm, observed that crops grown at the farm included cassava, maize, Beninese, yam, guinea corn and some economic trees.
It was also observed that some of the farm labourers were busy harvesting maize, yam and other crops.
Okpede, who is also the Chairman, house Committee on Health, said he decided to embark on farming to complement the Federal Government’s efforts in diversifying the economy.
He urged youths to go back to the farm to become self-reliant and fight poverty, unemployment and boost the socio-economic development of the country.
According to him, for the country to achieve food sufficiency and overcome the present hardship, youths and other Nigerians must go back to the farm.
“I want my people and other Nigerians to know that farming is the only common activity one can do to sustain his living, that is why I am into farming for my constituents to see and emulate.
“No society can live comfortably without agriculture; agriculture is the major source of livelihood of every family, nation and its importance cannot be overemphasized to the development of any society.
“Apart from ensuring food security, farming also provides job opportunities boosts the revenue of the state and the country at large.
“If youths and other Nigerians go back to farm, it will not only reduce dependence on oil but will also fight poverty, unemployment, youths restiveness and other social vices.”
The lawmaker, however, appealed to the government to distribute fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers to meet the requirements in tackling poverty and ensure food security in the country.