Aged rural farmers in Nigeria

Going to the rural areas of Nigeria and the observation made are that rural farmers are of aged and the challenges is that the strength to cultivate land and the power to invest in the Agricultural production that will promote food security here in Nigeria. The challenges are also noted in the areas of discouraging […]

Going to the rural areas of Nigeria and the observation made are that rural farmers are of aged and the challenges is that the strength to cultivate land and the power to invest in the Agricultural production that will promote food security here in Nigeria.
The challenges are also noted in the areas of discouraging the young people to key into Agricultural production. Because of the  lack of interest and the state and Federal Government are not having a good programs that will spear end the cultivation of land  and the replacement of the old aged farmers, that will promote food security in Nigeria and improve the cultivation of Land here in Nigeria.
Looking at them but young and adult of female and male farmers  are wearing old clothes using poor agricultural implement and poor processing.  Poor technology of transportation of Agricultural produce, too end it all they eat poor diet and low income and they did not have access too good roads, education, electricity’s 
The resultant effect of this is also noted in poor policy in food security. Urgent steps are not taking to replace the aged rural farmers in the farming communities, our agricultural production will been bleak. So what are steps that are needed? The First  is reintroduction of School farming Agriculture in the primary, secondary and Universities, also ensuring  that the private sectors and Government promote Agricultural cultivation by given free Land and seedlings in the  farming communities, reduction of the cut off marks in the higher institutes for those that will been interested in going for agriculture and also the introduction of scholarship for agricultural students that are interested to take agriculture as fulltime and providing soft loans to civil servant that may been interested in embarking  too Agricultural production and promoting training and formation of Agricultural cooperatives and associations.
Michael . A. Oke is the Executive Director, Michael Adedotun Oke Foundation, Plot 232 Kaida road old kutunku, Gwagwalada, Abuja