Agribusiness overhaul likely in Plateau as officials visit Port Novo farm

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topping deforestation which often comes from cutting down of trees especially in rural areas to get firewood and charcoal is one of the possibilities for Plateau state in the very near future. This was stirred in the minds of government officials from Plateau state who recently visited the Songhai Farm Centre in Port Novo, Benin Republic through Hadur Travel and Tours.

The plan, according to Comfort Piwuna, commissioner for science and technology, is for Plateau state to train people on how to use their wastes to generate fuel to obtain fire for cooking and other purposes. “Use of biogas is capable of transforming rural communities completely, …and it is not expensive, it just requires building a digester that will generate biogas from wastes,” said Piwuna during a tour of the Songhai Farm Centre in Port Novo recently.

Piwuna added, “There are many progressive things to learn. They practise zero emission in waste management and it is very environmentally friendly. Africa is currently suffering from the lack of knowledge in the handling of wastes and it is a big nuisance for us. Maximum usage of agricultural wastes is a big lesson to learn.”

She further said, “We are here with local government chairmen and the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs because we want the local governments to understand how to provide massive employments for youths through agribusiness.

“The trained youths can embrace one aspect of agriculture or the other such as snail or mushroom production. This would further improve the economic profile of the state. The good thing is that in Plateau we have very clement weather, so we believe the quality of our mushrooms for example will be better.”

She continued, “The governor is already encouraging the youths and people of Plateau in general to embrace agriculture. He has brought an Israeli firm and they are working to transform the agricultural landscape and make it very attractive for investors.

“What the Israelis are providing is very good but it is for large scale investors and it is very high tech. But what is available in Songhai is such that an ordinary farmer with little capital can practise it. We have come with a large contingent because we want the local governments to get youths in their locality involved in agriculture.

“The plan is that local government chairmen can get youths to receive training using the Songhai model. The trained youths can then be given start up capital. For instance, a person who chooses grass-cutter production can be given enough capital to buy three males and 12 females to start. The local government can then put a machinery in place for supervision in collaboration with the ministry of science and technology to ensure it works.”

Paul S. Wai, the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs  who was also on the weeklong tour said the techniques at the Songhai Farm are so simple yet effective. “It is so down to earth that the local farmer can easily key into it and there is no waste. Even the leaves that fall from the tree is not wasted, the rains that fall from the roof is not wasted, the wastes from the kitchen, toilet are not wasted,” he reflected.

He further said, “The integrated system in this place is a wonderful one. If we have this in several places in Africa, Nigeria in particular, we would be able to solve the problem of food security and unemployment. Looking round I see quite a number of young people working here and they are so happy and committed. I am already set to mobilise the incoming elected chairmen in 2014 to come and be inspired on how agriculture can be used to create massive employment.”

He noted that the Plateau state government had already pushed agricultural activities to the point that the Jos International Airport is now being targeted as an agricultural cargo terminal which is a big boost to this sector. “If each local government in Plateau state models this kind of farm in their local government, I can only imagine the level of agricultural activities that would be taking place in the state and that would be a great economic push. I was so impressed I was taking notes profusely,” he added.

Yakubu Nyang, director for agriculture in Jos East local government area, also on the tour said, “All aspects of farming activities are being carried out here, what is considered as by-products or wastes in one section will is used in another section on the farm. I have learnt a lot. We intend to get our farmers to understand these simple techniques through the extension agents. We will do demonstrations and the farmers can replicate them. We would give the farmers continuous orientation through extension.”

Olufunke Taiwo, chief executive, Hadur Travel and Tours  delighted at the possibilities that the visits of government officials to such places hold for Nigeria, said that the agency is highly focused in finding and organising trips that would be economically beneficial to governments, other organisations, private companies and individuals.

Songhai is an integrated farm which was set up by Godfery Nzamujo, a Nigerian reverend father in Benin Republic. The farm develops farming techniques that are suitable for the African business environment as way of getting Africans to create wealth through agriculture using what they have.

By: OLUYINKA ALAWODE