Charges Youths to embrace mordern Agriculture.
By Amb Timothy Nwachukwu
Engr. Benjamin Okah, A former Commissioner for Public Utilities in Ebonyi State and the chairman, Ebonyi Elders Council has been honoured with an Award of Excellence by the Faculty of Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Anambra State at the maiden edition of the Engineering Lectures Series which held in Unizik Awka.
Engr. Benjamin Okah, The CEO of Green Trees and Machines Limited
who doubled as a guest speaker at the maiden edition of the Faculty of Engineering Lectures Series, delivered a lecture on The Role of Engineering in Sustainable Agriculture.
In his paper, He revealed that about 80 % of the world’s population live in the developing countries; as such there is an urgent need to increase food production in order to guarantee food availability for the ever-growing population.
He stated that “the constant innovation and application of “Engineering” to Agriculture becomes so important that emphasis must be placed on it if we are to survive as a people”.
He bemoaned the fact that the South-Eastern part of Nigeria is yet to accept farming as a profitable business venture, thus making the South East to be dependent on food products from other parts of Nigeria.
He opined that the South- West youths have embraced agriculture using modern technology such as drip irrigation, greenhouses, and improved varieties of crops and this makes them more self-sufficient in food production; particularly root crops, vegetables and fruits.
He further revealed that most tomatoes, pepper, and other crops sold in Lagos and Ibadan are largely produced in the South-Western part of Nigeria, while farmers in the Northern part of Nigeria have been empowered over the years by deliberate government policies to produce food abundantly and to export to the south.
Engr. Benjamin while qouting an unnamed source stated that “FOOD IS THE INSTRUMENT OF PEACE” and we cannot get enough food using the big manual hoes in our farms and without food, you will understand the real meaning of “the hungry man is an angry man”.
He further revealed that Ertharin Cousin stated that “THERE IS NO FOOD SECURITY WITHOUT PEACE, AND NO PEACE WITHOUT FOOD”.
He noted that the era of the big hoe is over and Nugeirans must embrace modern technology in farming.
*He further opined that, “In Nigeria, the only legally allowed business for civil and public servants is farming, and we can all help to achieve food sufficiency if each person can have a minimum of one hectare of farmland. If you just use half a hectare of land and sow 14,000 tomato plants using good agronomical practice, you can make a million naira every cycle of three month from that farm. In fact, in your one plot of land, you can make more money farming in it.”*
He charged the universities Community, business people, and leaders to invest even more in agriculture with available technology to provide enough food for the people; and most importantly, to invest in manufacturing of these simplified equipment that will make life easier for our farmers.
The high point of the event which witnessed renowned academia, business moguls and Students was the presentation of an Award of Excellence to Engr. Benjamin Okah by Engr. Prof. Joseph Nwabanne, Dean Faculty of Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Anambra State.
