•Cover picture: Dr. Emmanuel Bankole (wearing top green T – shirt ) and others at DUFarms recently.
By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
ABEOKUTA. The immediate past Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ogun State chapter and an expert in Agricultural practices is fully back to the farm after a stint in unionism and labour activism.
Bankole who is now the Acting Director, Directorate of University Farms, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has lend his voice to the drive to tackle the issue of rising food inflation in the country.
Speaking as a guest on a recent radio programme, tagged “Sunday Morning Live in a state – owned station in Abeokuta, he noted the federal government’s efforts to address the country’s food crisis but said it has been deemed insufficient by some, as soaring food prices continue to affect every segment of citizens.
He explained that food inflation referred to a sustained increase in food prices over time without a corresponding increase in purchasing power, and identified seven major factors contributing to food inflation, especially in Nigeria.
The factors, according to him, included government policy, global food problems, supply chain disruptions, high production costs, increased demand for agricultural products, currency fluctuations and climate change.
Proffering ways to assuage the situation, Bankole emphasised the need for mechanisation in agriculture to make it attractive to young people and increase outputs of agricultural products.
He stressed the importance of storage facilities to reduce waste and enable value addition.
He highlighted the relationship between FUNAAB and farmers’ associations in Ogun State, citing training programs and collaborations that have taken place between both parties.
He also advocated government support to encourage mechanisation and create an enabling environment for private-sector involvement in agriculture.
Commenting extensively on Nigeria’s past reliance on agricultural produce and the need for investment in mechanisation to ensure food security and export potential, he urged the country to take advantage of the demand for Nigerian products both domestically and internationally to change the country’s narrative.
Just this August, the FUNAAB took a significant step to spearhead agricultural revitalisation and enhance food production within its immediate environment by entering a strategic partnership with Auxano Farms to establish a sprawling 500-hectare Farm Estate within the University campus.
Dr Emmanuel Bankole is expected to play critical role in overseing the health of the farm as the Acting Director, Directorate of University Farms.
The collaboration, which started with the clearing of the site located after the Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR) as well as the road leading to the Institute for Human Resources Development (INHURD), was aimed at addressing food security challenges in the country.
The initiative seeks to cultivate a variety of crops including maize, cassava, pepper, tomatoes, and perennial crops like oil palm. It would also encompass the processing of harvested produce, ensuring value addition and sustainability, generate employment opportunities and contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of the nation.
The Farm Estate would also feature a One-Stop Shop where consumers could purchase fresh farm produce directly, bridging the gap between producers and consumers.
Additional report Credit: Durodola Makinde & Emeka Oluka.
•Picture credit: FUNAAB Corporate Affairs Directorate.
