The fall of global petroleum price may be a blessing to Nigeria and Nigerians
after all. It may be a wake-up call by nature for Nigeria to wake up from their
sole dependence in Petroleum. Petroleum is only a speck among tons of
other natural resources and Agricultural products that the nation was known for
in yore years. Name the natural resources and you will find it under Nigerian
soil, yet we act as if petroleum is the only resource that the nation can boast
of.
Prior
to our oil discovery, Nigeria used to occupy a large place in the world market
with her impeccable Palm produce, Rubber, groundnut, and cocoa products
respectively. However and sadly too, upon discovery of petroleum everyone
abandoned those money-making machines and chased after rich-quick live-styles
made possible by petroleum sales. Our governments went into looting sprees and
did away with other important and more viable sectors of the economy. According
to Washington Post, today Nigeria ranks only 5th among palm producing countries,
13th in Rubber production, and 4th in cocoa production.
Nigeria,
with her vast human population, enviable favorable vegetation, and climates has
the wherewithal to push her way to the top among her peers; however our morbid
dependence in oil is what has clipped our wings so dangerous that we find it
difficult to soar into the sky ahead of their contemporaries.
In
terms of livestock production, Nigeria with her vast land and human population
should be one of the store-houses of the world. Nigerians have no business
complaining of hunger and poverty when she is already blessed with every
resource to not only survive but to excel. Our cattle are of very hard breeds;
hence they have abilities to withstand some of our inclement weather conditions
including obnoxious parasites which exotic breeds cannot march. Our breeds such
as the Ndama, white Fulani, Red bororo, and Sokoto Gudali are superbly equipped
to withstand any local unfriendly weather conditions and parasites. For
example, they have the ability to withstand dangerous parasites such as tse-tse
fly, which transmits the notorious trypasomiasis, (sleeping sickness).
The local breeds may be of poor milk production and dressing
percentage, however those unfavorable traits could be duly tackled. These days, with high level scientific and
technological advancements, we no longer have to import live animals for
cross-breeding, instead just the semen from any desired livestock can be
imported and effectively used to improve the quality of our livestock productions
by way of artificial insemination; cross-breeding, back-crossing, or line
breading to achieve desired traits. The same method could be used in swine,
equine, goat, and even poultry production. Also, when well encouraged Nigerians
could be very industrious people, those who may not be able to afford intensive
method of livestock production may be willing and able to go into
semi-intensive, or well guided extensive method of production. All they need
are genuine encouragement and supports from the government.
When
it comes to arable crops, Nigeria's vast population and available lands should
be a plus for the Nation to lift her head above water and flood the earth with
food. Currently majority of our arable crops; tomatoes, legumes, carrots, yams,
cocoyams, cassava, three-leave yams, and etc are produced at minimal quantities
because of poor technical know-how, lack of encouragements from the government,
and lackadaisical attitudes of the citizenry. The above is connected to our
morbid rich-quick attitudes dangerously introduced and encouraged by our
politicians and leaders in high places. It is only in our African continent
that farmers are looked upon and regarded as misfits and people of no value. We
developed the above misconception and ignorant mindsets as if we feed on
paper-money while forgetting that money is only what money can buy period.
Today,
in Igbo land where palm wine is revered and taken as our big cultural symbol it
is ironic that the few people who today produce the essential commodity are
seen as peasants and never-do wells, yet in actuality we cannot do without
their wares.
Currently
our government at every level is blindfolded by petroleum paper-money and
they are aware that the USA who is the largest world market may wake up to and
wave bye to everyone because they have acquired enough reserves and established
many other means of generating cleaner energies for their production.
Therefore,
beside the prizes we lately enjoy at the pump today, methinks that the sharp
decline in oil prices may also be a good thing in disguise as it may be one of
the ways God in his infinite wisdom wants Nigeria and Nigerians, especially our
government and politicians to come back to their senses and return to
Agribusinesses and other enormous resources under our soil which are also free
gifts of mother nature to all of us.
Eugene
Iwuamanam
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