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Afe Babalola believes that agriculture is crucial to the development of Nigeria.Babalola was speaking at the ABUAD sports pavilion during the grand finale of the biennial Afe Babalola Agricultural Expo, better known as ABAEX.
Babalola expressed sorrow that, despite the enormous profits in agriculture, many Nigerians had abandoned the occupation, and he highlighted insecurity as a significant factor contributing to the fall in agriculture.
As part of his attempts to boost farming and lift farmers financially, he distributed N13.2 million to exceptional farmers in Ekiti State.
Mr. Aribasoye Emmanuel of the Ado Local Government Area was awarded the top prize of N2 million as the state’s overall best farmer of the year.
Each of the 16 local government areas received N250,000, N150,000, N100,000, N75,000, and N50,000 for the top five farmers.
Babalola described the distribution of money to diligent farmers on a yearly basis as a dream come true.
“This is the realization of a dream of mine. It all began as a fantasy, which has become a reality since 2015.
“The dream represented my passionate desire to persuade people that farming is a spiritual calling.
“It’s also part of my personal contribution to the country’s ongoing efforts to revitalize agriculture and reduce unemployment.
“Another reason I founded this Expo was because I found it really sad that many Nigerians had given up farming in favor of white collar or menial employment.
“Many of us in the country are familiar with the biblical account of the Garden of Eden, in which we are taught that God, in His wisdom, created the Garden and entrusted Adam and his wife, Eve, with its care.
“There was a period in this nation when, regardless of one’s job, one would have a small garden at the back of his house, and plant vegetables, tomatoes, peppers, and garden eggs, among other things,” he noted.
“Let me take this occasion to request that the Federal Government establish a special Agriculture Bank, which will be unlike any other.
“This is where farmers may get low-interest loans with the help of their cooperative organizations as guarantors, “he explained.
The founder of ABUAD expressed sorrow that farming in Nigeria has been abandoned and discouraged.
“Today, farming has been abandoned in Nigeria, and Nigeria has suffered as a result.
“For example, there was a time when Ekiti State alone generated 52% of the erstwhile Western Region’s Internally Generated Revenue.
Ekiti State is now Nigeria’s poorest state. In fact, at the time, there were no beggars in Ekiti State because everyone was employed, but today, beggars can be found everywhere.
Babalola went on to say, “Life is no longer safe at home, on the farm, on the road, or even in classrooms, thanks to the onslaught of insecurity ranging from kidnapping, robbery, and invasion by herdsmen sweeping the country.”
“The combination of these maladies has resulted in the destruction of numerous farms and the forced abandonment of many farmers.
“Thank God, Ekiti State farmers have persevered in the face of adversity. I believe in agriculture since I grew up on one and, as many of you know, I am still a farmer.”
He went on to say that he incorporated agricultural studies into his university’s curriculum, with a 50% reduction in the course’s tuition charge.
“We provide seed money for agriculture graduates to launch their own businesses at my university.”