By Kehinde Adejumo
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The Baale of Omu in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, Chief Idowu Falokun has described agriculture as an alternative to oil that will help  Nigerians survive the present economic crunch the country is  battling with, in view of the fall in oil prices in the world market.

He made this known   to  Community Hope during a recent visit to the area. He said agriculture is the most important sector in the country  that will help ensure food security and provide raw materials.

“More importantly, it creates  employment for the unemployed, agriculture is the highest employers of Labour,” Falokun said.

The Baale said government should shift focus from crude oil and face agriculture squarely  so that current rate of unemployment will reduce.

He also advised the government to set up an agency that will be moving from one  rural area to the other that will  teach people in hinterlands on the system of  modern farming, and from subsistence agriculture to mechanize farming.

He also suggested that money should be made available for youths who want to take to farming

Youths should be  encouraged to go into farming by making land and funds available for them , if this is done so many youths will be interested  to take to farming instead of moving from one city to the other in search for non existing white  collar jobs .

 Apart from  the fact that this will provide employment, it will also reduce the rate of  crime in the society .

The Baale called on everybody, both civil  servants and artisans to have garden where they can plant food crops such  yam, cassava,  potatoes and the likes saying this will go a long way in reducing the high cost of food.

“Agriculture has been the mainstay of the economy before the advent of  crude oil  in the country.

Omu community is located along Itaoniyan road, off Ondo road. It was established over 200 years ago by a man called Asekutu.

Different ethnic groups in Nigeria are in Omu because they give  land to everyone that want to  farm free of charge.

  Some of the ethics groups are calabar,  Edoma Ebira.