I never anticipated the response we got from our friend that day. All buddies; we had all chatted heartily at the prospect the future held. It was our last day together as students seeking a university degree. I think it was Tunji who asked – ‘When you start earning money, what would you do most with your cash’, he thereafter unconsciously stuck out his wet tongue rubbing it on his lower and upper lips. He told us his would be to buy a nice car and enjoy life. I can’t recollect what the 2 other people with us said but we all still remember Jimmy’s comment. It stunned us all. He took his gaze off the book that was sharing his attention with us. ‘I will buy food. I will eat. I will eat good food. You guys don’t know how important food is. I can’t imagine the world without food’, he went on to expatiate on how much he goes after knowing watering holes and good market in every community he has had cause to live in. Indeed, we had always known his room, 234, Block 8, Awolowo Hall was the place to go when we get hungry suddenly. What we did not know was that the dude really loved food and all activities related to it!
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| ... from the forest. |
Of course, he got me thinking afterwards. Food. Food. Food. What would happen if the world had no food? Basic biology knowledge helped me understand the role of plants as the primary producers and without it no other animal in the ecosystem, including man can exist. Rene Redzepi picks his best from the forest. He should know better. He’s the world’s best cook.1 Covering one third of the earth’s land portion, the forest like Olivier Langrand of Conservation International says- the forest is not a mere group of trees. It’s amazing the quantity of food the forest gets to produce every season here in Nigeria. The nuts are delicious. The bush meats are a delicacy. The fruits are nutritional. The list is endless. The flow chart of links between forestry and household food security is remarkable.2
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| Perhaps, my fondest memory of Cameroun! |
The best traditional and medicinal diets are from the forest. The crunchy mushrooms, the leafy vegetables are foods the forest throws at our feet. The United Nations Environmental Programme3 and Treehuggers 4 must continue to help people keep my friend’s attitude and beyond. If we value food then we should value the forest that gives it to us. De-reservation of forest reserves, petroleum exploitation and spillages, poor enlightment should be met head-on. Every environmental activist should know that the most important aspect of environmental advocacy is that part that ensures that the forest remains alive and the vegetation retains its greenery, else we have a bunch of hungry activist! Ouch. The forest has always had the capacity to provide food for man. Leonardo da Vinci, one of my favourites has always been right – Nature never breaks her own law! I’m typing this with two mango fruits on my table; a silent testament to the ability of the forest despite the poor care for it. If the world still craves for food security then forestry must be fully integrated with food, livestock and fish production.5 Jimmy? He still loves food. I hear about 40% of his income is spent of buying food!
9 comments:
It's amazing how much of forest we have in Nigeria. So much can be done with it, if only the government has a clue. Kd boy, I love your writing approach. jimmy your friend is not alone; the only problem for me is the cooking. As to the eating, he has a company in me!
Nice piece. I think people need to have a reorientation on Forest and its many benefits. Prior to this time, when i hear the word forest what comes to my mind is a place filled with gigantic trees and all sorts of creatures - like the woods. And protecting the forest to me meant protecting the trees, creatures and by extension, sanitizing the air we breath in. Never really thought of the forest vis-a-vis the food we eat. So Kd boy, thanks for the insight.
I love food too its just that i have a problem with it reflecting on me (everybody says i need to add)!. Cheers.
All well and good. Food. Food. Food and more food. As the Egyptian will say: a fine soul soul can only live in a healthy body. With the number and density of forests in this part of our world, Nigerians should be the most well-fed and healthy species on earth. Forestation is as old as time. Our forefathers rely on forest for food. they depend on the forest for their health concern which they get via food, and more, they depend on the forest for their medicinal needs through the quality and types of plant they use for their meals. January this year i was ill. I took different drugs and nothing happened. I traveled to the village and plates of "ebamwonkhio" soup did the magic within three days.
Nice post. It's really scary to think what the world would be like if there were no 'greens'. I guess sometimes we wait until it is too late to maintain something. I hope dis post fulfils its functn of providing insight into our source of sustenance and the need to maintain and nurture this source... and of course, the importance of watchn what we eat, even if it means enjoying it to the Jimmy-extreme.
The Forest has always had the capacity to provide food for Man''. Do my Government know this; can they identity the number of forest functioning; what are such forest currently used for and what can be use for? All these need to be answer and fasttrack the approach of implementation of ''food security'' for the betterment of our people aswell to attain vision 20-2020, we claim to be pursuing.
Thus, In the develop world, Agricultural industry is the highest employer of labour, to show how much they invested in ''food'' ie solving immediate problem of a common man where lack/inadequate food is not an issue.
My Government should aimed at bringing together stakeholders in the Agricultural Industry to brainstorm on these critical issues and problem and to come up with a road map for the development of the industry towards the achievement of the nation's development goals.
Jide Olamilokun
@ all. Thanks for your comments. More importantly, the fact that this has helped to bring your attention to the massive capacity of the forest.
Yeah I guess it's time the government, private organisations and individuals began to make strides towards increasing or preserving our food sources. I guess we're all taking it for granted that food will always be available. I also think the first set of people to tap into the economic potential in forestry and other 'food related projects' will stand the chance to and maybe benefit the most from it. I need to start 'another business' :)
The sooner we start paying attention to what goes onside us...the bitter for us. We ignore it at our peril. Nigeria imports food. My father tells stories of the good days when she exported to the whole world. What happenned? A lack of focus. Ignoring the truth and focusing on the oily matter. Good soil. Death. Poverty. Shame.
This piece is simply exceptional and brilliant for me because of the issues it addresses and how it addresses them. It is a wake up call to all Nigerians and her government of how we have neglected what will have been a source of more food, etc... to us as a nation. This story gives me the three dosage of a good writing. I makes me to SMILE, LAUGH and PONDER.
E. S. Abdalmasih
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