A renowned farmer and best farmer in agricultural fair organized in Oredo by the then Military government of Col. John Mark. Inieger in 1985, Chief Imudia Akegbuwa, has praised the resilient dispositions of President Muhammadu Buhari, to revamp agriculture in Nigeria.
The sector which had been abandoned for oil and gas by successive governments in the country, according to him played dominant roles in stabilizing the country’s economy in the past, but unfortunately has lost it values due to ignorance and selfish interest of some persons in the helm of affairs in the country.
Chief Akegbuwa, who won several prizes to emerge the best farmer in the then Bendel State, lamented government’s neglect of the sector for so long without recourse to the fact that it brings about abundant food, job opportunities for the teeming populace and above all, generate huge revenue for the government.
Speaking to The SUNDAY OBSERVER at his Benin City residence, Chief Akegbuwa, posited that the 1985 agricultural fair gave him the opportunity to win over ten certificates and a plague for different products ranging from poultry to food crops, in the defunct Bendel State, while he expressed joy over the venture which enhanced farmer capacity to adopt modern farming techniques since it afforded them the privilege to interact with themselves and intellectuals, apart from traveling to other states and even sometimes outside the shores of Nigeria to showcase their farm produce and products.
He maintained that agriculture was a revenue driver which has been abruptly neglected for too long, leading to a loss of interest by farmers who lacked collateral to get loan facilities just as he expressed optimism that President Buhari, having taken agriculture as a priority in this present government, would adopt the goodwill of organising the agric fairs as a way of promoting competitive spirit among small scale farmers who would be encouraged to exhibit their products and rewarded for outstanding performances.
The CEO of Midwest Poultry Farm, who has his corporate office in Benin City, stressed that Nigeria can return to it pride of place as number one agriculture facilitator in Africa.
According to him, as an arable farmer who specialized on poultry products, green vegetable and oil palm production, he was able to create employment and create wealth despite the fact that there were no good roads and other facilities.
He thanked President Buhari for his efforts to tackle the problem of agriculture just as he charged the state and local governments to build a synergy with the central government to uplift the standard of agriculture in this dispensation.
President Mohammedu Buhari
