Investing Heavily On Palm Produce, Modern Farming Styles Will Curb Hunger, Poverty in A'Ibom- Wisdom Enang

 

Sampson Enyongekere

A Chartered Engineer who is fully registered with the British Engineering  Council, Engr. (Dr.) Wisdom Patrick Enang, says that unlocking the abundant agricultural potentials in Akwa Ibom State will boost food sufficiency, and bring mega revenue to the State.

Dr. Wisdom Enang dropped the hint on Friday, April 7, while speaking with  journalists on the need to boost food sufficiency and develop agro-allied products beyond just the subsistence level. 

The shrewd Oil and Gas Consultant said that as a State with clear comparative advantage in commodities like palm produce, Akwa Ibom should have evolved its farming goal from achieving food sufficiency, to becoming a major revenue earner from same.

Defining Agriculture as the cultivation of crops and rearing of animals, both for economic and domestic purposes, the ebullient youth and leadership coach, informed that the agricultural sector of an economy remains exceptionally the most important sector of any economy, warning that ours should not be treated with kid gloves.

He explained further that agriculture is vital for the availability of the three basic necessities of life: clothing, shelter and food.

The Adjunct Professor of North Dakota University, USA, and Chairman Board of Trustees of the philanthropic Sarah Enang Humanitarian Foundation, SEHF, listed China, India, USA, and Brazil as the world's largest food producers, with the United States of America standing tall as the world's largest exporter of food, accounting for more than 10 percent of total global exports in 2020.

The Essien Udim PDP Caucus member queried why the underdeveloped countries of Africa, Nigeria inclusive, should neglect farming and rely on importation of grains and other food commodities, describing it as an irony.  

Dr. Enang stressed that it was time for the agricultural sector in Akwa Ibom State to be massively developed and conquered through mechanized farming, towards the exportation of our agro-allied products, which constitutes a major revenue earner in some states of the Nation, and Countries of the world, maintaining that the time to look beyond oil, civil service engagement, and career politicking has come. 

He listed India, United States of America, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, China, Turkey, Germany, Mexico and Russia, as the ten topmost agricultural Nations, whose prominence, enviable rise and development, could not have been possible without a boost in Agricultural development.

Dr. Wisdom Enang, a Fellow of both the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and the Nigerian Institution of Safety Engineers (NISafetyE), said that government should also seriously look into providing centralised storage and processing facilities for our local farmers, as this from time immemorial has been the greatest challenge bedeviling massive food production, beyond the subsistence level obtainable in our clime.

Famous for his advocacy for value-driven leadership, ethical and attitudinal change, and for the adoption of the right democratic imperatives, Dr. Wisdom Enang subtly suggested that in order to achieve export focused crop farming in Akwa Ibom State, the following key imperatives are required: provision of high yield seedlings to farmers; availability of high-confidence soil test data to ascertain soil fertility and suitability to grow certain crops; establishment of a state-owned Agricultural Produce Board, or Cooperative Society to create a commercial bridge between the farmers and the end market. 

"An Agricultural Produce Board or Cooperative Society should be encouraged and formed to serve as the rallying point to provide the needed leverage between local farmers, consumers, and exporters of agricultural produce. That way, the farmers will be allowed to focus solely on their expertise which is the main farming activity".

The Akwa Ibom born, United Kingdom trained Mechanical Engineer further expressed optimism in the agricultural cooperative society's capacity to access finance and high yield seedlings, sell to bankable buyers such as food and beverages companies, create a reliable long-term market, secure direct partnerships with export buyers that pay higher prices, all of which translates to better economic prospects for Akwa Ibom State.

He further added that local farmers will also benefit from government funding support, mechanised farming, training and mentorship programs.

The globally respected Nation-builder, said that training sessions, especially if galvanised with lessons learnt from the countries mentioned above, who have been very successful in commercial farming, will exhaustively exposed our local farmers to the latest agricultural trends, and global best practices.

Dr Enang also reiterated the need for the state government to support students of Akwa Ibom origin studying agric-based courses in tertiary institutions with tuition fee support, and research grants. He also stressed the need for local farmers to be sold NPK fertilizers at very subsidized rates to boost crop yield, while a fertilizer plant for the State should in the light of this, be urgently considered.

The Oil and Gas Expert said that hybrid and improved seedlings with guarantee of a high yield should not just be imported, but how they are developed should be studied and taught to our local farmers.

Expressing confidence in Pastor Umo Eno's capacity to positively shake the system once sworn-in, Dr. Enang pleaded that farming, which is the oldest occupation in human annals, should not be relegated to the backstage if food sufficiency and revenue earning from Agriculture is significant to us.