By Peter Amine
Chief Michael Aondoakaa, former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, has said that agriculture is more profitable than oil ,if the best practices are followed.
Aondoakaa stated this on Thursday in Makurdi, at the distribution of free improved seeds to farmers by Teryima Nigeria Limited, an agricultural company.
The former justice minister said thatagriculture remains the best tool for sustainable development.
“Do you know we can produce groundnut oil that’s more expensive than petrol? A litre of groundnut oil costs more than fuel.
“Benue is the richest state in Nigeria. We have the resources. Our agricultural oil is worth more than crude.
“A litre of sesame seed oil costs more than you think. We have wealth in our soil.
“Unfortunately, some forces are destabilising us so we don’t reach our potential.
“More crops are becoming profitable now, not just rice. Beans is booming. Ginger is now more lucrative than even rice. Ask in the market; ginger prices have skyrocketed, and the situation is the same with onions,” he said.
According to him,farming at the riverbanks, using irrigation, is more profitable than many realised.
Aondoakaa urged farmers to follow the model of Mr Vitalis Tarnongu, the CEO of Teryima Nigeria Limited, and make more money.
According to him, people like Tarnongu are doing wonders, organising women into cooperatives and foundations.
“I plan to partner with him again. We’ll make a gb proposal to the government and host a major conference on practical agriculture. We’ll show what crops are thriving in Benue,” he said.
The Chairman, All Farmers Association (AFAN), Benue chapter, Mr Abel Owoicho, lauded Teryima for distributing seeds free to farmers.
Owoicho stated that AFAN would continue to partner with the company to ensure food sufficiency in the state.
Chief Augustine Kuma, the Ter Ushongu, described the initiative as an important effort to ensure that the people feed themselves.
“This initiative encourages the production of food, and that alone is commendable. You can see a lot of women involved in this programme.
“These women are the subsistence farmers who aggregate food from the villages and eventually bring it into the city.
“We are encouraging initiatives like this in all facets of human development to ensure progress and sustainability,” he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the high point of the event was the presentation of awards to individuals that stood by the company. NAN
