The governor of Edo state, Senator Monday Okpebholo can go a step further in his bid to making the state a food basket in the South South region, by making it compulsory for every school in the state to own its farm, as this can form part of his ambitious N70 Billion agricultural budget for the year 2025.
This advised was offered by an Oxford and Cambridge University-trained entrepreneurship, leadership and sustainability expert, Mr. John Mayaki while appreciating the importance the state governor placed on agriculture on its 2025 budget.
Mayaki said, “if agriculture is part of our school curriculum, it should be taught not just in theory but with strong emphasis on practical engagement and this comes with far-reaching benefits.
“I have said this on several occasions that you cannot have a Professor of Agric science who does not own a farm. It doesn’t make any sense. There’s no reason why English language is a compulsory subject while agricultural science that’s supposed to put food on our tables is optional. We just need our schools to begin to cultivate their own farms as we used to have them”.
“I want to first commend our state governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo for that budgetary provision in the 2025 budget and subsequently urge him to consider creating policies that would mandate the establishment of school farms where agricultural science teachers are also equipped with the needed practical skills and tools to manage school farms effectively.
“If the governor succeeds with his plans and the budgeted funding properly utilized, he would have solved the crisis of food shortages which has a direct impact on our health, educational and economic life. It will tackle interconnected crises in health, education, and socioeconomic stability across Edo State. A well executed agriculture strategy can have a ripple effect that goes beyond food production, jumpstart widespread development and improving quality of life.
“Food security is directly tied to public health and don’t forget that malnutrition is often as a result of food shortages, which also exacerbates health challenges, particularly among vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women. And so, when we get farming right, the state can ensure access to nutritious, locally grown food, reducing the prevalence of diet-related diseases such as anemia, stunted growth, and even chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart diseases”.
“More so, when we empower our farming communities with better incomes and resources, then they are better positioned to afford healthcare. The resulting increase in economic stability could lead to improved access to health services, reducing the burden on state healthcare infrastructure.
“Also, let’s not forget that a well-fed population learns better and that food insecurity negatively impacts students’ concentration, academic performance, and school attendance. If Edo State harnesses the power of its agriculture budget to eliminate hunger, students in rural and urban areas will benefit from the physical and mental stamina required for academic success.
“If the governor wants to get the best legacy and inspire a new generation of millionaires in agriculture and skill workers, I will encourage him to initiate agriculture-focused policies, such as establishing agricultural training centers or embedding farming practices into school curriculums.
“The N70 billion agriculture budget is more than a line item in the 2025 fiscal plan. It is a lifeline for Edo State. If the governor succeeds by making Edo state the food basket in the region, empower small holder farmers, get schools to own their farms, among several other initiatives, he would have succeeded in killing three birds with just one stone”.
