mE GUARDIAN, Sunday; September 30,2012
DIu ~ soil scientist and agronomist. is a Professor of Mk:robiology at the Obafeml Awolowo University, lie Ite, Osun State. Apractical farmer, he established the first Ecotourist farm in the country in lIesa, Osun State, where he runs a large agroforesrry/biodiversity outfit which. consisting of organic ferfiUser factory , fisheries farm, oil palm tree plantation and biops digester_ He grows arable crops and has tagged about 150 differ8f11 tree species. A National Merit Award recipient among severaJ others, Odeyemi, who is passionate about agricul· ture and the environment, spoke to FABIAN DOOM on Nigeria's agriculture and the way forward on the occasion of the 52nd independence anniversary_
'Nigeria Must Invest In Sdence, Technology To TransformAgrib1Jlsm~ """" groundn of tftUm to thor: "l
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with lhe rr:seard prodUCf'ntol!XJ: we wiU gtt CM!J" I In Malays\.il. 1M haY!! ~ I JO different produCUcomin! outef moll Thewaywe roc:w aud~ pt Il!\In is s.Jm~ way palm 011 5 being band1id n a nI'l of numerous pl~lInes. The:~ l USI be tific and lI!Ch~ ~I mining I K.llly arld abroad 10 help us dlmb b.d to (h. lop~these produce. There is also tm ,Jip!oD' tk: skLt of It; our ambas.udon are'nOi sent 10 othertoUntries for SI!lfglorifimtklrl I work PVm for our IndustrtaJdeYeiopmmt. eyshouldbe trllpoweredtDliIporsue lichnology.send matmals down ! Pthe n;JIon CilIn move aheM!.. Wblchl!Yr:r guver Dmenf running this [ounlI)l, if m us[ be Yf'fY l! fonnt.'CI 'With vast knowif'dgtt of manythinp; ! o bllatr~ agRf'menlSa~ not Ill$( Signed hom. I lion 01 knowledge weakness: OUr no Hon ml benefil rnaximaUy
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1ncreJ.slngly, most steps ta.km by the Auirulture mfnIsoy at the CedeRJ and san: I_ dS Induding no~entill orpnisiltioru iiR! directed-at production whIle the nadOn has
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natlon is Kill Yrf)'_ak In the OI~ of prousslng .00 that is whYOIbout"'O ~ cen of our prnducr is lost. 1M penodS between Au~ 10 October and NOYmlber, whffi harvest of nunycrops are al peak, fann produce ha~ arn-aard loW- prices due 10 seemmggluton theshOl'l term. This is not good for us as. nation that has come a klllg wayand there must be • shift away from this. I belJeve th.iIltM solution to proc~ Ingand preservation Ues In our unlvftsities, polytechnks and resean:h institules bullheR iiR! no Unkages betwIem tht:m .lnd producers as _U as government to bring the results 10 util ... SOIUon. Fumets and those 10 other asp«lS of OI8f1bu5lness should get the research results .md be rralned In oWOplion of various tee/mologies In order to get practical beneOu. \IIbat lS the p!.ci! of researches that do noI: find
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10 learn from the se COlIn lor natlonal growth .00 deY!!: Dpmfn ,sciUlCl! and tec:t1noJ. ogystill remain tmdou Iya key to natJo~1 IransrormadolL On the privati! SI!::tof'( as of nunlng ourKOOOlllJaDt ~mml around The wealm or aloo.m uys. be In the rarm and Indusuy ahd If the P te RCtor is deYl!loped. the nadon s dl!Yelo. too.. for t:his rea:~ ~,,~:::.e S$for shrld well educated
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In t990,dunng Ine Gen Babangkl.l admlnJstra. tlon.l suggested to gcM!f1Ullent. 01.1 II)!! time I was gtven • Nauonal MerilAward for Science .00 technology. rn..1 the Mmisuy of Sdena and Technology should come out with a unit lO hilndlr sdenlffic resurches.ln~. ItlSlo 0 - . collale all the research actiVities from these Instllutes. unlvtrsltles and polytechnics; and how the orpnlc fenlllu:r production that I was maIled to the establishml!nt of National doing would be stepped up.Solmho~ th~ was • change of governmmt and the lalk stalled. Agmcy for Science and Engineering lnfrilstrucrure(NASENI); InckienQIly,1 was nor Government should giveopponunltytothe inygk-'I!d In Sftllng upof thai bod)' inl~ of the rannersand 1M natiolL T1v a~ The.rr: are lots of ~ going on In these ment theObaSOlnjoadmmiSfnhon had with 1M IIUl1ruliOflS but not • signifianl f'nqulrbarr: Chinese was not propertvcoordinated IXhl!lVo'lSl!being nude of what ~ts lhal emanate from oura5SilVoli chl~ wouldbe OUI therr: feeding there. The effl!Cli~coIlation of the OUtputs large number of anlma.is. should br paramount t~y; Ihls Is lhe only Before Independence, we had b«n U5I!d to Wily)'OU can harness the jobs being donr. lb.e exporting prtrrwyproduce -~groundnul. missing linbgts bet~n rMCarchen iilnd palm kend,f'lC-withoulVolliue ~tIon.Should Carmen n~ 10 be connected so there would _mndnue dat way In today's economy? ADd remnce of the work being done. what Is roil! of the priYatz: sector In this? In my rilnn Wh"2nk fannin.g is the GoYIemmem has Ille ~nslbtlll)' 10 put pol;' focm,l bnng In a tun' students from high- des In p1au that would .lIm 01.1 doin.g thingS liif. erlnstitullons as exDKUd beciI~ ls furr:nLl~ It should opt'D wdoortoencounge an iltU where the nation has a 10( 10 do. the pnVollte S«tO[ Toda~ Indlalw IT'IOrr sdr:ntim than the UK; The suppon of the 8ilnk oflndusuy Is good bul ~ need pl~nlyof .scic:ntim to dn"elop as iii II is IlOI: enough. N~ there should be miWiY! ~llon not the rurTl!nt skew loward an,d.ll[e lralnln.g for people whoafe ready 10 exporl and and the Ilk!! among the youth. The cruz of the this shOuld Iledevoid of Ihecrippllng bureaucramilner Isscien[e ol¥ tKhnology; cy In the NI,gert.an system today, It was IlOl IIkr Prr:sidmt: Jonathan's AgriculI:llRl this before. There are lots of hurdles in the way of Tnndonriation IIgmdiI is grad~ smdIng people UY;!Ig 10 do tbmgs connected with gO\lpeople to the fann esped.aIIy, with c:u&v.l and ernmenl oIIfces. Its Proasstng. What's your assesmlf'Dt7 There iiR! opportunities 10 expon food abroad _ It has MYf'r bef'n this way In our nation siner not ontvtotithercontinf'lllS but noen Mric:;m i~ndellCf',HpI!Ci.lllywilh the Agriculture counufes Ilk!! those .reas without much W1Iteror TranSfoTJTliltlon Agenda olnd cassava among arable land. Thlnkor NIger,Chad. MaurililnLa and other produce. CassaVoliIlOW ~sgrealerpot:m- MaU;o~nlng up these arus would help the tLal than before. Whl!rf' lhere IS lack of upf'li- Nlgertiln ~nner and the economy: el1U in production .00 proasslng, the~ should be training and ~n min the miner. ('",oyemmeJll has 10 Invest money and othe!' resources In O~rlO ~ VolIlue to QSS;lVOl for
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The cha.lJenge of iCCI!:SS to fundlngandstaJt-tJp for people in oIJdbu51ness Tht:rr: must be smousness of purpose on thr: pan oflhe IndMdu.al1O gel things donl!',utdgr: undaunted In spire of the dullenges from banks .md dvtlservams. ~ho process atKI adnrlnlstCf somrofth£2 l'acillties. The anltude of the Nigerian bureaucral must change and gtM'mment al aU Ievf'Is muslsee that this Is beingdolll' else the people would be stagnated. We must be bold to fWd!! corruption slncr II affl!ClS n"ery Cam of ournarionailife. Nlgenilnsarr: unparrJodc and only Ihlnkof nut!" nal gains coming 10 them. As5essmmc ofdieAgricultur.tlTnnsformadon ~ so fil1 1he ptogr'Olmme is laudable but. agOlin dviI serYams. who are at the gOYrrruDent eoo Ormf' plan munlearn IOdo things dlfJmntiy from t~~ ~r. Ihey are. nu;orpan of thecmllenges facngour lransformation. 1haY! hadgovemment officials visit my filnn from touriSm. ru~ development, niltlonal park and so fC?nh,somet:lmes In fours or fi'l'l!s. At th~ end of their vlsJt, only Ihe leildttr would maier comment on the book and otben would not, all • maner of bwu~ ThIs is. Idnd of mmtillity that hiodm deYelopmmt and II is possible th.Jt ~n the JuniorofJkfi h.u a betler Idea. on our put as private $I!Clor Pf'Ople, "'It! must shi ft from the usual waysof dOing Ihlngs or nothing would be done. Could you review the ok! aport crops such .as
And this mUSl be dellbt.... ue;_ can't haY!! un). Vl'rsiries and otlll r Ill5lJlllOons of higher learning Wlthoul aI!Y tlirectlol _ Government ml.Sl sl!I!lI put the destinaUOn and If we haVf' Vi~lon for lO..~. MDGs. sevu.tI points agmda., Wllch unIVersities .Ire working and IJiljning in h 1r wuh U)e5l! goals? Almost: nont,)'f't ~.tn! t ,-eating JTKl(f: utiM:rsities:; II is nor enough 1O .'Ompar.thrrn WIth HalW.rd in the Unltid StaII!lO, (Iley}nust be .able 1O...a· Ie these Challengl'S; our p~ems. The univf'rslues and !!\1m the polyU' nkS must be responsl~ tOOUf nation." dreams and aspl~ liOns now ITlOR I..un done since Inde-
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while the prfvilIe 2[(01 " I pick up from tlvn 10 dlMiop tharfnm the!F instirullOns. The promoCion c r 5C~nc~ .nd techno~ Is not enough In this [OUtlt~ wher~ much of the time ItlS politic!illU.n th way and the Press If nIX helplngnltlltt'" In th rr:gotrd. There Is Vf'ry Itnle follow up of rr:ljonftt InddeflCf'S or 5100esuide the fKI th.a pol nunyofthem .rr: _.IIgroundell In repktJn.gof sc:iena and tKhnoiogy issue! . On va.rious lrrIption SC~I!S doaing para of
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lh~ dams fiwlnig;tLlon lOr Increased agricultural productlill andl,adama ~nnlllg&ut th~ Impact has nt;-t 1l1~1 oc:hfiWisto tIlerr: shouldbe boundl supp1Yofrood IMn durIngthrdiyseason. reF,ybe IlI!f'd 10$et the private Sl!ClDft be InVolYm to InRllsify IMuseoftheselni ~hemes.Thetrulh is tharthe countrfl t a population of OYH 170 mUUon c., d only on rain fed altIkulrure. Nig to feed beller so that the brain WGJl be I dtveloped. 1l1eR.rr: ilbout ~o lIIi9n unemployed YOUlhs WilStlnga\.r.I w1lt\oul lobs ana they Could be mined. n depfo'J~ to the ;lgnUlltural RCtOf.
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MaR a... f'n~ In the agr1cultural sector of the jobs.and support to~~ In t:hdr~ 10 tJtI! agk and kiod Sf(".and Food BusInoess: OIn InfOrmative, econom It ilso opens the possibilities for upand, Improve and
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Agriculture Business Programme Ride Airwaves
InOsun Slate wh~ I am Invotwd, to some atmt. with some gD\tiTlmenl prognmmes In agrirullUre, I emphasize the faa (hil goYftTlment must lookout fOf market. both lOCal and international. Ona the~ is market, people would go and prodUCf'.. Where I broUght g»1 rr:cr:n~ I found that the price has gone up beause more access lS opening for c.ass;wa., a
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ucatfYf' and m1lghtenlng 30 minutes lV and t.hose, ~ wUh to go Into~lIIed businessI!S, With PiIIticular l'mphasis on financing and AgrIcultuR (BOA) comme:nad broadcast this proIiabDltyonilSustamablle basis. quaner.. The prngnmmelnrrodoceslMsuppon servk"It is.n Initiative of Nenmedla Umlted for the es mC.I solutions theywill reuiVf' frOm the: bank Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and is pan of the to saM field problems and i.nc:nase their proBank's !"ebfanding fX:lXe:ss. which rimunf'nud ductkJnOl~ welcomf'd~lopmmL early this yea r Wlth InlemaJ and enernal The ~ OJ Exeru£lw, ~ Not long ago. Wil$ this request from rebr.mdingasWf'llasamultimedlaamj»lgn. Bank 0( ~rurr: BOA). Or. Mohammed olbrwd to tfie Nigeriangovemml!nl for producr lie y.m, pranlilln. vegl!L1bles, ~ngoand The programme, whkh is produced ilOO sYndi- Santura1d, who beadllried t& nWden editions Olled"naOonwide by Nf'XlMedla Is aimed at O"eill- of the prqpamme said that although the bank pmupple to be: tllported to Europe. The only proviso Ihere was that theyshould be prodUad log .wareness among vlewt:n and IIsrenen has f.Ked so many challl!ll~ It his been abit' low. medium to high todlsburseOYHN44 billion loin since IlSlncepnationwide consisting OrJaflialJy. thai is without fertilizer lib NPk. nttwonh farmen. bUsinessmen. women aiId tion. Dr. SannuilJcI added lhal Ba.\ has m.arid Ul'Ut and the Illtf'. Mlnlstryof Agric:ulrurr: In AbujOl w.as Inlerested and I was ailed up to see
0010 prognmme sponsored by the Bank of
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ThelV and radioprogra~ which alrweekly on NTA NetWOrIt. RMri:FM ttqrt Harcourt. ESBS I'M
Enu ....Minna """ N"""~ ' regkxW""10 Vol<. NIl!" Radro arid 01 radio sudons
address ~ in the munuy and wgm theedocatioQ of tumm.
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opmml in ag:ricultur~ \r.lIue d\airu In the agricIDrural ~ wtuch Includes the food and allied Industries. as weI.I as Ihe: Ii.~ of agricultural proJeru. 1!Xl!C\l00n and Implf'lllCntation or ~ Cu.lrulill poIkjes for r...ltloniiJ growth and sustaInibUl~