Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
There was jubilation in Osogbo, Osun State last Friday when the Deputy Speaker of Federal House of Representatives, Mr Sulaimon Lasun-Yussuff, presented tractors to farmers in his domain.
It was gathered that the lawmaker gave the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Osogbo/Olorunda/Orolu/Irepodun Federal Constituency three tractors worth N60 million to boost agriculture in the state.
The elated farmers thanked the Deputy Speaker for the kind gesture and urged other politicians to emulate him.
They said the tractors would go a long way to inspire them to do more on the farm land, which will consequently help the economy of Osun State and Nigeria at large.
Speaking while presenting the tractors to the farmers, Mr Lasun-Yussuff explained that he donated the tractors because of his love for the sector, noting that his experience as a farmer was the core reason.
He appealed to Nigerians, regardless their educational background and political status, to embrace farming as a means of economic survival.
The lawmaker also urged government at all levels and other stakeholders to support agriculture, stressing that it is the next ‘oil’ for Nigeria.
According to him, if government can subsidise agriculture in terms of farm inputs and prices of farm produce as being done in some countries, millions of people who have abandoned farming as one of their inherited occupation would have gone back to farm.
He advised the government to design ways of buying directly from farmers, emphasising that such will encourage more mechanized farming in our country.
“As a matter of urgency, we need to pass a bill on agriculture that will bring back the Marketing Board. In some countries they do not allow farmers who have worked tirelessly in the course of production to be looking for market for his produce.
“The issue of subsidy itself emanated from agriculture. Farm produce must be subsidised in all aspect either in terms of farm inputs or the prices of the farm produce.
“It is ridiculous for Nigeria to be subsidising fuel price instead of subsidising agricultural imputs and farm produce. If governments buy from farmers at high price it will encourage them to go back to the farm. You don’t allow farmers to suffer and still be selling their produce at unreasonable costs.
“That is what they are doing in other countries like America and United Kingdom and that is why they are ahead of others in everything,” he said.
