
Chief Gbenga Eyiolawi, Chairman of TITAN Farms has posited that all forms of insecurities as cattle rustling, banditry, herders/farmers conflicts affecting agricultural business in Nigeria should be tackled effectively to make foods available and affordable to all Nigerians.
Chief Eyiolawi also advised government to create a department/agency that could bridge the gap between farmers and food produce traders.
The TITAN Farms boss, while featuring on the Oluyole FM Radio program “Breakfast Fiesta,” pointed out that Nigerian farmers are producing enough food for local consumption and exports.
He however explained that the wide gap between farms and markets are making the farm produce unaffordable to the masses.
The TITAN Farm Boss enjoined government to put in place system that would address this challenge and bring down the food prices in the country.
“An agency should be created to bridge the gap between farms and markets. The agency should also regulate the commercial activities of farmers and traders with a view to controlling of food prices. If such good marketing control agency is set up and allowed to function effectively, I can assure you that food security will be guaranteed,” the Aare Kebimapalu of Ibadan land said.
The agric investor who spoke on the topic: ‘Food Security and Local Productions,’ called on government at all levels to encourage large scale investments in agro allied industry by creating enabling environments for its growth.
While revealing that efforts are being made to bring youths into agriculture, Chief Eyiolawi disclosed that most youths are not ready to go into farming as they prefer white collar jobs,
“What our youths want are sexy jobs, and farming is not sexy. However we organise agric training regularly and give people an opportunity to earn from TITAN Farms. Many of the trained youths have been doing so fine but some move away to other businesses, after few weeks because they believed farming had to be magical and bring money quickly”.
The Mechanised Farmer advised those interested in venturing into agric business to consider key areas which could also make the business lucrative.
“In Nigeria of today many people don’t look into the area of preservation and storage as a business, which is key in agricultural business, what they focus most are cultivation and processing”, he noted
The Agri-preneur explains:
“In agriculture there are different phases, the preparations and seedling stage, that’s a major business on its own. The farm management and maintenance stage as well as the processing stage, the storage and preservation stage, marketing and distribution stage are also major businesses which could bring big money.
“And of all these stages I have mentioned, people focus on planting, harvesting and processing but left others. However, those few people doing the others are making big money from it, because many don’t look at those sides. What most people understand about farming are planting, harvesting and processing”, he stated.