Rubber farmers, under the aegis of National Rubber Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NARPPMAN), in the South-West part of the country, have commenced moves to make rubber a crop capable of boosting the economy of the south-west states.
State chairmen, other leaders and major stakeholders of the association, recently converged on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, for the maiden meeting of south-west NARPPMAN leaders to brainstorm on how to make the cultivation attractive to new comers and how to encourage existing producers and processors.
Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune shortly after the meeting, Chairman, NARPPMAN in Osun State and convener of the meeting, Evangelist Oluwatosin Jeremiah, stated that:” I am a great admirer of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The story I learnt about him and his success inspired me to see how our generation can bring back to the south-west region the golden era of this great man.
“Awolowo’s days were not era of crude oil exploration, but he used agriculture to lift the region and made life easy for his people. He worked to improve education, social services and agriculture. He encouraged the planting of cocoa, palm trees, rubber, cashew, kolanut, coconut etc and used the revenue derived from these to build Liberty Stadium, the Cocoa House where we are meeting today, WNBS, WNTV, among others.
“Research studies have also confirmed that some other countries of the world like Malaysia reap good revenue from rubber and can even be a game changer for Nigeria if the crop is given necessary attention. Rubber is rich in by-products and this keeps increasing as technology advances. It is a highly profitable crop with hidden treasures that can be explored for our economic liberation.
“It is this desire to use agriculture and particularly the commercial plantation of rubber to stimulate massive industrialisation of the South-West, generate huge employment opportunities for the teeming youth population which eventually will serve as the much-needed panacea for social vices.”
In his remarks, chairman, NARPPMAN, Oyo State, Deacon John Ogungbile, who is also the host chairman, said NARPPMAN in the state will contribute to the agenda of the association in the south-west, stating that the association in Oyo State will seek government’s support where necessary in order to achieve the purpose of coming together NARPPMAN leaders in the South-West.
Industry leaders present at the meeting included former Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry, Chief Dele Odulaja, National Vice President, NACCIMA and BoT chairman, NARPPMAN, Chief Kola Akosile, all the state chairmen and secretaries of NARPPMAN in the south-west region.
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