A PROF. OF POLITICAL ECONOMY AS A COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
A PROF. OF POLITICAL ECONOMY AS A COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
By:
Nurudeen Dauda
23rd February, 2017.
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To begin with, permit me to celebrate my “Role Model”, Professor Kabir Mato,a Professor of Political Economy.Professor Mato is My “Model” for four Good Reasons: (1) He is an academics ;(2) A Public Affairs Analysts ;(3) A columnist; and (4) A Professor of Political Economy. Interestingly too, I cherish, aspire, admire and envy all his above named attributes as such becomes my “Model.”
For someone who has little or no knowledge of Political Economy would have said “WHY” Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry to a Professor of Political Science. However, for someone who knows the scope of Political Science cum Political Economy would have said he is eminently qualified to be so appointed. Moreover, everyone who follows Professor Mato’s Analyses in the Media both local and foreign, and his Column in Weekly Trust (now Daily Trust Saturday) will have no issue with his appointment. Permit me to state that I have high expectation on him in view of his experience and exposure of the Nigerian Economy.
However, in view of the high expectation and confidence that I have for my model I set the following agenda for him: (1) To come out with a strategy that will attract YOUNG graduates into Agriculture;(2) To encourage Civil Servants to embrace Agriculture as it is acceptable even by the Civil Service rules;(3) To woo Rich men of Kaduna State origin or even residence to invest in Dairy, Ranches, Orchard, Poultry, Fish Farms etc; (4) To woo both local and Foreign investors to invest in Agro-Allied Products and Processing companies; (5) To give more emphasis on “Maize” Cultivation because of its comparative advantage in Kaduna State; and (6) To deploy Technology and Research into farming using Public Private Partnership model (PPP).
No one should misinterpret me, giving emphasis on “Maize” Cultivation does not in any way mean neglecting other Agricultural products; such as: Soya-beans, Tomatoes, Rice, Ginger, Suger cane etc. Arguably Kaduna state is the largest producer of “Maize” in the country, but unfortunately despite the “Maize” potentials of the country, Nigeria produces only 10million metric tons annually when our total annual “Maize” requirement is about 40million metric tons. Kaduna state under the leadership of Professor Mato should and must boost its Maize production.
Northern Nigeria has no reason to be poor given its Agricultural potentials. More so, it also has no reason to fear “Resource Control”. Research has confirmed the reliability and acceptability of Biofuels as a more environmentally friendly, cleaner and cheaper energy option when compared with premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol or other fossil fuels. Biofuel which is a type of fuel derived from plant, animal matter and waste could be in the form of Bioethanol (used as a replacement for petrol) and Biodiesel (used as a replacement for diesel). Accordingly, the main feedstock for Biofuel production in some developed countries include: Sugar cane in Brazil, Corn in US, Wheat in France, and Sweet potato in China. Research is ongoing in Malaysia to produce Biofuel from palm oil.
May God Bless Kaduna and Nigeria!