Small-scale farming, antidote to poverty – Don

He made the call while delivering the 158th inaugural lecture of the University of Ilorin titled, ‘Let the Small-Scale Farmer Be in Good Standing’.Omotesho stressed the need for governments at all levels to put in place effective machinery that will ensure that small-scale farmers in the country have the required access to the much-needed agricultural […]

He made the call while delivering the 158th inaugural lecture of the University of Ilorin titled, ‘Let the Small-Scale Farmer Be in Good Standing’.
Omotesho stressed the need for governments at all levels to put in place effective machinery that will ensure that small-scale farmers in the country have the required access to the much-needed agricultural inputs, markets, land, finance, infrastructure and technologies.
These, he said, will boost their productivity on a sustainable basis, such that they are less vulnerable.
The don, who is also the Dean of Student Affairs, said, “a country-wide agricultural revolution is the only way to reduce poverty in the country. The promotion of agriculture at the grassroots would definitely accelerate the development of cottage industries, and provide the much-required linkages to industrialisation.
“Our heroes should be those people who will improve the quality of life of our people, fight poverty and introduce more sustainability in our food system, because food is life. Our heroes should be our farmers who, regardless of the numerous constraints that they face, strive to produce the food we eat. They must not be left to continue to suffer.”
The don further called for implementation of various government policies targeted at supporting small-scale farmers.
He said many countries in Asia like Thailand, China, India, as well as Brazil achieved enormous economic growth through their small-scale farmers thereby reducing poverty in many rural areas. He added that for Nigeria to be in good standing economically, it has to diversify.