By Richard Thomas, Ibadan
Agric expert and multi faceted farmer, Oluwafemi Abioye has said one of the ways government at all levels can tackle poverty and unemployment menace in the country is by investing heavily in the agricultural sector of the nation in order to make the economy buoyant and stable for great development.
Abioye, ex- banker in an interview with Western Post News in Ibadan said it is high time government and the people looked into the development with a view of salvaging the economy of the country, adding that the advise became imperative in order to save the country’s economy from collapsing.
According to him, genuine intervention from government into the agricultural
sector would go a long way in turning around fortune of the nation and the people.
He said government need to encourage the youths and take care of value chain and as well create and enabling environment for off takers to take farm produce from the farmers in the production section adding that this will strengthen the sector and the economy.
“As a multi faceted farmer and expert in agric business, our garri , ofada rice and other products sell at premium prices, we have partners in the United Kingdom for some of these process.”
“I decided to come into the farming when my energy is at its peak but most people do so when they are growing old. I have crops like maize, yam, cassava soya beans on the arable and plantain, cashew and oil palm and others. I also have poultry which some of the arable go to. If government can encourage the youths and create enabling environment for the practice, agriculture will boost our economy, he added
According to Abioye, the Chief Executive Officer, Agric Media, youths need mentors, people they can look up to and they need to believe in hard and smart work to succeed.
“In a unique way, government can support with cluster infrastructure like the dryer, silo for storage, mobile processing plant and a kind of guarantee for farmers to access loan.
He encouraged the youths to put their energy in agric business, just as he assured them of maximum job security, success and good living in the profession.
“We do seminars and we are the only organisation which carry out inter High Institution Quiz to encourage the youths on agriculture”
Speaking on his experience, Abioye said he was born into farming but he needed to put his energy in the profession when his strength is still at the peak.
“I resigned from the Banking sector and consequently launched myself into agric business some years back.”
This is excellent🙌
The price of success is hard work and dedication this is a reminder for me too….kudos Mr Abioye you’re an inspiration!!