Former Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, Professor Labode Popoola, and the Dean of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources at the University of Ibadan, Professor Adejoke Akinyele, have called on the Federal Government to eliminate middlemen in the agricultural supply chain to enhance food production and security in Nigeria.
The duo made the appeal during the 40th anniversary and reunion of the Class of 1984 graduates from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan, held yesterday.
Cut Out the Middlemen
Professor Akinyele emphasized the crucial role of removing intermediaries in the food supply chain to ensure that farmers’ produce reaches consumers more efficiently.
“If we can remove the middlemen from the food production chain, it is going to go a long way in ensuring food security in Nigeria,” she said.
“If the government can make adequate arrangements to get crops produced by these farmers directly to consumers, cutting off the middlemen, that is what we need to look into to ensure food security.”
The Need for Passion and Commitment
Professor Popoola, who is currently the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the African Forest Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, echoed Akinyele’s sentiments, highlighting Nigeria’s potential for achieving food security given its favorable climate and fertile land.
However, he stressed the importance of having dedicated and passionate individuals in the agricultural sector.
“Nigeria must have people who are committed to agriculture if we want to be involved in it,” Popoola said.
“There must be passion and patience for it.”
He further urged universities to provide practical training for students in agricultural disciplines to instill a genuine interest in the field.
“My plea to the university system is to try as much as possible to train these students hands-on. Let them develop interest in some of these things.
There are so many people in the cities who are supposed to be in the village. I have to hire laborers from Togo. There are Nigerians who are not willing to do it.”
A Call for Action
Popoola concluded by reiterating that Nigeria has all the necessary resources to ensure food security, including a good climate and fertile land.
“There is absolutely no reason Nigeria should not be food-secure. We have what it takes.
The climate is good, we have the land, and the fertility of the land is relatively good. All we need to have is commitment and passion,” he said.
