Growing crops and veges in wetlands

Places located in the Niger delta areas are characterized by high water table, protracted rainfall, moist soils and water logging. Notwithstanding, it is imperative that strategies to face these challenges be put in place to encourage crop production instead of the massive importation of vegetables and other crops into the city from neighboring states.
Bayelsa being a coastal city, is surrounded by water and most lands polluted by oil activities. This polluting activities also affect the water bodies thereby hampering fishing activities.

Dr. Blessing Okogbue is working towards an agricultural sensitization lecture to educate the people and expose some level of truth in the possibility of full agricultural activities in the riverine state not minding the wetness of the terrain.

A lot of youths are jobless, idle and also complain that jobs are not available. If the little available lands can be cultivated, lots of food can be produced by the state and a lot of willing young people can be engaged productively.

Please add your comments on crops that can thrive in a typical Bayelsan soil. Thank you

Hands-on multi-disciplinary approach to Agricultural development

Agriculture should not be left for farmers alone, all hands just have to be on deck if Nigeria wants Agriculture to move to the next level. The NEXT LEVEL here is the point where Nigeria is self-sufficient in food production and poised enough to produce substantial raw materials for industrial development. This way the poor will have access to 'daily bread' and most SMEs will have cheap and indigenous raw materials to boost business and promote 'made-in-Nigeria' goods and services. This is simple, let every profession device a means to apply tailored technology to boost agricultural activities.

Yes! if engineers, technologists and technicians will look inwards and be committed to this cause, indigenous technological designs which fast track production, processing and preservation of agric. produce can be developed. It will help cut high costs involved in importation of equipment and post harvest losses incurred due to lack of necessary equipment.
Marketing and distribution of agric. products can be enhanced if business and marketing experts will pay little attention and come up with strategic ideas.

Banks and financial institutions need to come up with ways to help small holders and rural farmers manage, transfer and obtain funds to boost their agribusiness and foster financial supports as well. This will help support efforts made by these highly valued groups that produce more than 50 percent of the local staple foods we consume daily.

Teachers should encourage students to study agriculture related subjects and engage in practicals. This will enhance sustainable agricultural development and home gardening/farming as well. Home gardening has been reported to be responsible for over 80 percent of staple foods produced and marketed daily in most developed countries we admire today. These countries support individuals to engage in farming because they know the imports of such agricultural activities even on foreign exchange earnings.

Higher institutions and research institutes should engage in development-based researches to enhance innovations and products development to meet socio-economic needs (hunger, poverty, and joblessness) and solve limiting problems.

Churches, NGOs and Cooperatives can organize trainings and other supports to encourage awareness and capacity development programmes for members. A lot of jobless folks can see opportunities and spring up from there while others can improve on or add value to what they are already doing to enhance markets and increase income.

Government should put flexible policies in place to encourage farmers. Politicians can invest in developing their restive youths and engage them productively at the grass root levels.

A lot can be done to boost agricultural development in Nigeria especially, in the area of making cheap foods available, creating jobs and reducing importation of agro-products. Industries will spring up when raw material are made available. Young people will get involved if agribusiness is made attractive. Value addition is very important in agriculture, it enhance market for products. It takes creativity, innovative researches, capacity development and  modern technology duly put in place.