From creation, our had been known for their farming prowess. Men and women had cultivated various crops for subsistence and exportation.
Agriculture had been man's most cherished form of business. All these happened before the exploration of crude oil in Nigeria.
Akwa Ibom State was a beehive of agricultural activities, little wonder that Colonial Masters invaded the area, bought and exported agricultural products to the western world. These persons were involved in Agritourism.
Agritourism, as it is defined more broadly, involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or a ranch.
Agritourism therefore has different definitions in different parts of the world, and sometimes refers specifically to farm house, a in Italy.
Elsewhere, agrictourism includes a wide variety of activities, including buying produce direct from a farm stand, navigating a corn maze, slopping hogs, picking fruits, feeding animals, or staying at a bed and breakfast (B&B) apartment in farmland.
Agritourism is a form of niche tourism that is considered a growth industry in many parts of the world, including Nigeria, Canada, United States, and the Philippines.
Other terms associated with agrictourism are "agritainment", "value added products" , "farm direct marketing" and "sustainable agriculture" all this is to ensure growth and increase in farm produce.
With the aforementioned, our people have become more interested in how their food is produced. They want to meet farmers and processors and talk with them about what goes into food production.
For many people who visit farms, especially children, the visit marks they first time they see the source of their food, be it in a ranch or in a corn field, or maybe a tomato farm in which they can pick a ripe one.
In Akwa Ibom, agritourism is an old word that had received commendation from its citizens. With the emergence of Mr. Udom Emmanuel who during his campaigns promised the people industrial revolution, this promise has been brought to reality with the launching of Akwa Ibom Enterprise and Employment Scheme (AKEES).
Since this scheme was launched, a machinery was set in motion to create opportunities for young school leavers and make them productive through entrepreneurship.
AKEES have sought to get young people off the street and into work through trainings, farming, partnerships, franchise scheme, there is therefore q green Vegetable Revolution in Akwa Ibom State.
The state has now become a major producer of most vegetables which before today, we're considered not fit to grow on our soil.
Vegetables like Tomatoes, cabbage, Egg plant, Garden Egg, Radish, and Beetroot are grown here. Fruits like water melon, cucumber and paw paw are now in abundance in Akwa Ibom State.
Today, students of professional institutions like the faculty of Engineering, AKSU, command and staff
College, Nigerian institute of Policy and Strategic Studies and other tertiary institutions have carried out study tours to farmlands in Akwa Ibom State to see the extent of growth in the industry. Our state therefore have joined the league of states with strong agricultural economy.
Consequently, food sufficiency and food security will soon be a thing of the past as many high profile Akwa Ibomites have also joined this ageless industry. With the Governor introducing a cattle ranch in Uruan LGA, another agritourism is incubating.
No comments: