This time the country is calling on Nigerians to embrace farming and other areas likely to help in the economic diversification and create a fertile ground and enabling environment for a robust economy; many farmers in the rural areas with high productivity rate appear to be unknown and unrecognized despite the huge contributions they are making towards the economic advancement of the nation. Majority of them have contributed immensely to the economic well-being of the nation without being known while others are still contributing their quota but yet are not still recognized.

These crops of farmers are locked up mostly in the rural areas, producing food for the nation with their crude implements which majority of the masses could attest to. They work in the sun and in the rain with little or no recognition at all. And in the process, they still employ workers whom they pay from their meager earnings. This is the irony of the whole thing.One of such farmers is Comrade Davidson Ojie, of Ute-Okpu kingdom in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State. He is a farmer not to be pushed aside when it comes to recognizing farmers of repute at least in his area in Delta State, for he has been able to contribute his quota to the agricultural development of not only in his place but also, the entire state if not the nation as a whole because his produce are carried by his customers to far away North and other parts of the country.

A native of Ute-Okpu in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, Comrade Davidson who was born as an Agriculturist for over 40 years says he has all it takes to place his area on the map as one of the food baskets of the nation if then necessary assistance he seeks from the government is given attention. As a reputable farmer, he has to his credit today, a large expanse of land measuring over five hectares with over 3,000 fruit-bearing palm-trees beautifully lined up on the land, forming boulevards of sort. With over 25 workers on his pay roll, some in oil-milling section, some involved in cutting of palm fruits from the palm-trees, while others are involved in the clearing of the bushes in and around the farm to keep it neat and free from dangerous reptiles such as snakes. The pick-up drivers who conveys the palm-fruits, palm oil produced, the end product, and other yields from his farm to places they are needed, also form part of the staff list.

All these workers are on his pay-roll. “ I have been helping in the area of employment, food production as I’m also into mass production of cassava and yam, but yam on a lower capacity. I pay all these workers for their labour because as the saying goes, a labourer deserves his wages. This is the reason why I’m calling on the government to come to my assistance. If I can get N5 million from the State government it will go along way in cushioning some of the harsh times I’m facing. I am eager to contribute my quota to the national economic development. I want my place to recognize as one of the producing zone of the state if not in the country. That is why I need government assistance in the direction.”

This farmer producing 80 jerry cans of palm oil on monthly basis and produces cassava in large quantities which is lift out from his large expand of farm on almost weekly basis. With this high production profile, the farmer no doubt deserve a place in the list of farmers to be considered for whenever such consideration is to take place.

QUOTE: “I am not soliciting for loan because I want to marry more wives. I want to expand, I want to expand my farm and contribute my quota in helping to ensure Nigeria joins the league of food-exporting nations of the world. You can see why I am asking the State Government to come to my assistance by giving me loan. I hear some farmers do get this loan. The government should please help me to get the loan. I remember there was a time either the State or the Federal Government registered its interest in producing oil in large quantity for the sake of exporting to other nations of the world. If I am encouraged to by being given loan to beef up my production capacity, I believe my own contribution will go a long way. Thank you very much.”

Ojie
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Source: Ika News Agbor
Ika News: Comrade Davison Ojie excelling in farm work, says he will do better with govt loan