With Kehinde Oluwatayo
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The need for more sensitisation on bush burning in this dry season to prevent destruction of farms has been stressed.

   Speaking with The Hope in Idanre recently, a cocoa farmer, Mr Julius Ojo said  the  labour of many years can get consumed in a fire outbreak.

    Ojo who said fire outbreak is a common phenomenon in Idanre in dry season said people must be warned against it.

    He called on government to do jingles to remind the people on the need to be careful with fire in this dry season.

     Ojo who is also into plantain cultivation said agriculture is now a business that is capable of making one rich.

   “Farming has moved away from the era of feeding my family alone, it has graduated to a business because the nation’s economy is improving. Farmers now ride big cars like civil servants and politicians.

   “If there is fund to do agriculture, one will make good money from it. You will even employ people to work for you especially if you go into tree crop planting,” he said.

    Ojo who said Idanre is noted for cocoa and plantain production challenged youths who have nothing doing to embrace agriculture to avoid being used by the devil.

    According to him, anyone who goes into plantain cultivation will start to harvest after nine months.

    “Here, cocoa and plantain are our major production. Although, cocoa takes time to  mature, but after nine months, you start to harvest your plantain if your soil is good. People also plant palm tree and cassava but cocoa and plantain are our major production,” he said.

    He called on government to make fund available to the youths saying that some of the them who would have embraced farming do not have the financial assistance.

   While appreciating the government for grading some farm roads in the area, Ojo called for more road repairs to prevent wastage of their produce as a result of bad roads.