EMPOWERMENT THROUGH AGRICULTURAL RURAL PROJECTS

GLF 2017 Blog Competition
SUBMITTED BY:
Chuks Adione Egom
COMMENTS

There is increase of population in most developing nations .The rise in population calls for a proactive response. Population rise will eventually lead to food shortage and poor livelihood.  We have to strategically help developing nations solve these problems by helping them develop the whole Agricultural value chain in the rural areas.  From one rural community to the other the lands are green,we can leverage on that to solve the problem of food shortage and poor livelihood for people around the world especially in developing nations.

In recent times the world is experiencing a population shift.  Developing nations need to begin to develop strategy and solicit for partnership to be able to cushion the effect of increasing population on their economy since the impact is more on them than the developed nations. A huge number of people live around the rural areas. Most times, as I travel along these paths, I feel this sense of rejection and abandonment going through their mind but at the same time, I see an attitude of survival. I see them run by the sides of moving vehicles just to sell their goods. They scramble for customers who are sitting comfortably in their vehicles, as the drivers slow down a little so they can sell what they have. From one end of the road to the other, you will notice all kinds of agricultural products being sold. From oranges, yams, maize, plantain and lots more. I am aware that most developed economies derive almost one quarter, if not more of their revenue from most of these agricultural produces. This is a sign that the lands can really produce. The availability of these produce, shows that agribusiness can really flourish, if attention is given to the rural areas. The people have to go beyond survival. We must look for a way to provide the enabling environment for lands around the rural area to be massively put into use. The lands can’t be green and there’s food shortage and low per capital income. We have to begin to encourage strategies that empowers rural dwellers to grow more food. For instance, I recently got involved in a project, where the aim is to massively use the lands in the rural areas through support from the rural dwellers, community leaders in the community and private organizations. The strategy is to agree with the rural dwellers, who possess land in the community but can’t cultivate it because they lack the resources, manpower and expertise to do so.  We immediately take over the lands with a clause, that we will give them a percentage of the farm produce as payment for the land. We go ahead to provide resources to cultivate the land from start to finish, employ the rural dwellers and then help source for market. We are committed to ensuring that the rural dwellers can sell their produce anytime they choose. Our long-term commitment is to provide a storage dump and processing centre for agricultural produce in the community. We have to ensure that there is no food wastage of any kind in the agricultural sector around rural areas. In order to help rural dwellers live in plenty, we must implement strategies that will help improve their lives and help encourage them to engage more in farming activities in turn we are helping to solve the problem of food shortage in the communities and around the world.

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