11/11/2011 (The Nation) - An entrepreneur, Mr Emmanuel Odigie, has urged the Edo State  government to encourage farmers to go into rubber, palm produce and cassava cultivation, among others, by providing land, funding and modern equipment.

Odigie made the call while speaking with journalists at the ongoing 25th Lagos International Trade Fair organised by the Lagos  Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). Odigie is showcasing agricultural commodities such as raw cocoa, processed ribbed smoked rubber sheet, palm fibre, palm fruit and red oil as well as wood carvings and bronze art works at the fair.

According to him, his company has about 50 hectares of palm plantation, 30 hectares of cassava farm and 20 hectares of rubber plantation at Egbokor-Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state.

He expressed regret that rubber farming had been abandoned due to the discovery of oil.

He, however, praised the government for providing N1billion loan for farmers and urged it to do more.

Odigie also noted that the Edo Government was also creating awareness at the community level for farmers and interested investors to go back to rubber planting.

Meanwhile, a farmer, Mr Godwin Nonso , has urged the Lagos State government to motivate farmers to showcase their product at trade fair.

He said that introducing agricultural products exhibition into the fair would encourage foreign investors to invest in the nation’s agricultural sector.

“Job seekers may even learn one or two things from the farmers, thereby solving unemployment crisis in the country.            

“We cannot continue to showcase foreign products and manufacturing products at the trade fair; we need agricultural  products at the fair,’’ Nonso said.

He suggested areas to focus to include fish pond, cocoa, cassava and livestock farming.