Sir: The federal government’s desire to boost agriculture in the country through the encouragement of and investment in mechanised farming is quite commendable and can be viewed as the right step in the right direction. The way and manner the prices of foodstuffs keep skyrocketing is both alarming and worrisome and the seeming current intervention by the government may be viewed as the right answer to address a nagging problem.  

However, if the fact that Nigeria’s forests have now become a danger zone abandoned by most farmers who love their lives, the new step taken by the government ostensibly to boost agriculture would be seen as nothing different from putting the cart before the horse.

Why invest in the procurement of tractors when the forests have been abandoned and mostly deserted? The first step the federal government ought to take was to secure the nation’s forest quite convincingly and in a manner that can restore the confidence of the fleeing farmers by dislodging completely the bandits and kidnappers who have since taken over all the forests.

It is after that is done and farmers return to the forests the newly procured tractors can be put into good use. As things stand now, one should not be surprised if the newly procured tractors soon begin to disappear into the thin air one after another after a while as typical of Nigeria.

However, all hopes are not lost. If the government is serious about its plans to recruit forest guards and provided all needed facilities and machineries are promptly put in place to jumpstart their operation, farmers may likely return to their lands and the tractors will therefore serve the purpose for which they are meant. May the almighty God direct Nigeria’s leaders aright.

Jide Oyewusi is the coordinator of Ethics Watch International, Nigeria.