Wednesday, 1 April 2015

Farmers News - Agric revolution will rescue Africa

Africa is often referred to as the ‘forgotten continent’ and subject to various colonial conquest in order to seize natural resources, it is now agriculture which draws foreign interest. Observers have questioned if this is ‘a new land grab in Africa. Perhaps the 21st century will be the century in which Africa establishes itself as an agribusiness destination.

Against the backdrop of the unprecedented crash in the crude oil price in the international market and subsequent devaluation of the naira, a case has been made for more attention to be given to massive agricultural revolution. Developing the nation’s vast agric potential remains the solution to the incessant distortion to Nigeria’s economy by the market forces.

The country left its economic fortunes to the vagaries of the international market forces through excessive importation. Its high time private investors latched in on the situation to help the government out by going into serious agriculture.

We should strive towards home-grown solutions as against imported ideas. The solutions for Africa will not be to import solutions from overseas but to create systems adapted to Africa. Africans would respond better to solutions that were specifically designed for them.

From the agricultural point of view, the opportunity for progress in Africa is tremendous if the desires of the developed world can be matched with the resources of the developing world, in a manner that creates sustainable agribusiness and does not simply become exploitative.


And what of the massive aid the west is giving to the developing nations? Surely that’s making a difference? Again the exact opposite is happening. Most have no idea that the money extended to the Third World is usually given with the aim that the receiving nation agrees to stringent population control and economic policies designed by the West. The leading characters here are certain Non-Governmental Organizations responsible for collating statistics, designing agendas, approving and disbursing the funds, as well as implementing the stringent control policies. Such ‘loans’ have in the main, been responsible for racking up the awesome debt beleaguering most Third World nations.

It’s unfortunate that some African countries are still using the paradigm of economic management formulated by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which tend to jeopardize economic growth in Third World countries.

Given the extraordinary size of aid budgets, it has been argued that this same money could have been used to eradicate world poverty and debt long before now. Instead of handing over billions to corrupt tyrants who loot it away via western banks, why aren’t these funds used to solve the real problems facing these countries? Why doesn’t the west supply the target nation with clean water to fight cholera, infections and dysentery? Four billion people on this earth do not have access to fresh water and proper sewerage. Why haven’t proper sanitation facilities been purchased with the west’s cash and deployed into African villages to prevent cholera, typhoid and other diseases? Why doesn’t the west supply the impoverished countries seedling, hybrid-livestock, tractors, thrashers, harvesters, etc.? Why weren’t proper agricultural programmes installed to help these nations provide themselves with a sustainable food supply?

These are questions most people ask themselves whenever Third World poverty hit the headlines. Most citizens are surprised by the apparent complexity governments bring to bear on such issues when the simple answer seems to be ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’
Helping the Third World to become self-sufficient by assisting them with their development seems very good. The confusion arises because most are unaware that the UN and First World governments are implementing an altogether different agenda-the systematic reduction of burgeoning populations that are viewed as a geopolitical threat to the First World.

It is not hard to discover upon visiting these poor countries that world hunger and disease are not being addressed; they are the antithesis of what the western hegemony wants for Africa. When Africa cries out for agricultural tools and seedlings, they are given condoms. When Africa asks for food for its children, the UN gives them safe-sex tee-shirts. When Rwandan women cry out to the UN to bring an end to death by machete, they respond by pulling out its peacekeepers and instructing AID organisations to send in the condoms and body bags.

African leaders should foster an environment of creativity and innovation and as a result, reestablish a stable society by drawing inspiration from ‘’the operation feed the nation’’-industrialisation, progress, productivity-, by clearly emphasising all the agricultural advantages and opportunities Africa offers.
If Malaysia can do wonders with oil palm? Nigeria with its abundant human and natural resources, two of Africa’s largest rivers-will surely overcome.

Contact us for consultancy or attend Jovana Farms seminars nearest to you and discover many opportunities in agriculture. Can’t attend? Order for self-tutorial VCD and book. Visit us at www.jovanafarms.com, E-mail:jovanafarms@gmail.com or Call: 080 33262 808, for more details. Choose also the nearest venue from our website.


Source: http://www.punchng.com/business/am-business/agric-revolution-will-rescue-africa/

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