AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION
We are still working on solutions to the economic situation in Nigeria. If you have not watched my video “Something Great is Brewing in Nigeria,” please look for it. President Captain TR of Burkina Faso uses one SUV and lives a very simple life because he understands the state of his country. Instead of buying SUVs for governors or leadership, he bought a large number of tractors and agricultural equipment. We can start an agricultural revolution!
I saw people protesting in Bayelsa State, which has some of the best soils for rice production in West Africa. If we want to produce rice, Bayelsa is a prime location. It’s a money-spinner—one of the low-hanging fruits. Each part of this country has a comparative advantage in agriculture. For instance, in the North, we have peanuts. Let’s encourage these people.
There is a company in the UK that produces close to, if not more than, 60 different products from potatoes. It’s a multi-million, if not billion, naira company. We can massively produce pork as well. Smithfield Foods in America was run by four generations of the Luter family before the Chinese bought it. We can produce pigs on a large scale.
All these prayer camps that are empty and unused throughout the year can be used to produce pigs, poultry, and other animal husbandry. Tilapia, often called the “poultry of the river,” could be available in abundance. Lake Victoria’s countries deliberately introduced tilapia species into the lake. We can intentionally start an agricultural revolution. I am not buying garri anymore. In fact, one of the buildings I’m constructing is financed by the sales I make from garri because I cultivated a large expanse of land.
Apart from the northern youths, most of these youths protesting hunger in the streets could start small farms. Do you know you can plant yams in sacks in Lagos, Warri, Abuja, Kaduna—anywhere? You can control the climate, weather, and water conditions. You can plant potatoes in paint buckets. I don’t buy garri, plantain, or oranges. I have a tree here loaded with oranges.
Let’s start an agricultural revolution. Tell the people to plant. Michelle Obama planted vegetables in a garden at the White House. Let’s mobilize these youths. This is serious business, not entertainment. People are dying of hunger. Think about these things. We can feed ourselves. Remember Peter Obi’s analogy of Niger State: Niger State can feed Nigeria.
Let’s not export cocoa and then import chocolate. Let’s utilize our cocoa, coffee, and other resources and add value to them so that people will import from us.
Dr. Charles Apoki is still my name. God bless you.
