Sustainable Agriculture May 2009
Sustain the soil
A young farmer from Nigeria
Summary:
A young Nigerian farmer shares lessons on how he takes care of his soil. By trial and error, with some input from radio programmes, he has learned about the importance of using fertiliser on his land, to maintain productivity. As a result he has developed a profitable farming business, and is convinced that even if he were to leave Nigeria, he would never leave farming.
Suggested introduction:
Sustain the soil and it will sustain you. In the midst of the cassava fields of southern Nigeria, there is a wonderful example of sustainable agriculture in action.
A young farmer takes good care of his soil. In turn, the soil - and the crops of cassava it grows - sustain him and his family, giving them a good standard of living.
So what is that drives this story of sustainability - is it science, tradition or a love of the land? Eric Chia, from Cameroon, wanted to find out. But right from the start he discovers that this young farmer has the same ambitions as any other farmer. And what's that? To do better and better each year, of course!
Tape in:
(Vernac.) I have discovered that the land...
Tape out:
...means of drawing them into it.
Closing Announcement:
A young farmer from Nigeria, who believes passionately in farming as a means to support his family, and who has learned to sustain his soil, so that it will sustain him.
Making the most of it:
Soil can be a challenge to report on, because it is usually taken for granted. Can you find a soil scientist or a farmer who can breathe life into the subject of soil: the need to have respect for it; what makes a healthy soil; how to keep it that way?
Transcript
Farmer
(Vernac.) I have discovered that the land can only support continuous farming for five years at a stretch, after which I have to come back with my people to apply fertilisers and other measures that we use to make it come alive again.
Chia
Has somebody ever come to tell you that you must take particular care of soil?
Farmer
No one has come in the past to tell us anything to do, any measure about how to care for the soil or what to look out for. But we have discovered from experience that after just three years or maximum five years, that we have to use measures. Now we found out about fertiliser from listening to the radio, but it's more important now because land is getting scarce. And so we have to really care some more. That is what we have discovered. Now we learned from experience how after three years the yield that comes from it becomes really poor, and so we know we have to let it rest, because the land needs to rest. It's getting weak.
Chia
Are you afraid of learning the scientific way or it's just that you like the old ways your fathers were doing things?
Farmer
Well, we are open to change, and we know that times and seasons come and pass. So if people come to us with new methods, just like we accepted and are now making full use of the tractor, so some other methods and techniques as well, as they come along, we will fully accept to use.
Chia
You as a young dynamic farmer; what will you advise the other young people who are in towns not willing to work the soil. Can soil really make you live, take care of your family?
Farmer
What I have to tell them is the test of the pudding is in the eating. Now I am quite young I know, but I can say that I have achieved much. Farming has become really distinguished now. It is not what it used to be. For instance, I can give you points of achievement. I have two cars, I have built my own house and I support my family. I'm quite happy with it. So it's for them to come and see what it is young people like me, who are in farming and have something to show for it.
Chia
If somebody were to give you a villa in exchange for this your soil, which one will you choose?
Farmer
Hmm, there is really nothing like farming for me. Even if I leave Nigeria for some other place, I cannot leave farming. I will still find a way to farm, and call people. Even if people are trying to draw me out of it, I will find a means of drawing them into it. End of track.
