REFLECTION ON AFRICAN AGRARIAN PHILOSOPHY: TRANSFORMING EGBIRA ENDOGENOUS AGRO-ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The central theme of African agrarian philosophy is the pragmatic utilization of human Trelation to nature (in agro-ecology) for the nutritional betterment of humanity. This is the fundamental essence of African communitarianism cum utilitarianism enrobed in 1 agrarianism. Behold the indigenous Egbira people (indeed Africans) are in acute shortage of sustainable nutrition and food insecurity in the midst of abundant human and agro-ecological heritage resources. Hence the imperative for an enduring transformational development in nutritional enhancement and general food security. The crux of this paper is the recognition of the quagmire and the fervent search for pragmatic transformation of the indigenous agrarian system for sustainable agricultural development. An analytical inquiry into the endogenous knowledge of the indigenous Egbira people supposes a strategic veritable heritage resource for sustainable agro-ecological living. Suffice it that the Egbira (African) endogenous knowledge system encodes environmental management policies for transformative resource development in our complex and ageing ecological system. It is true that the traditional lifestyles of the Egbira person (African) is seriously threatened with virtual extinction by insensitive developments. Satisfying existential needs must be anchored on transformation paradigm that will promote sustainable agriculture, achieve food security and improve nutrition concomitant with improved economic status of the indigenous Egbira (African). We conclude that through the mass cultivation of the soil that ushers food sufficiency, the Egbira will derive high credit balance of hard work, perseverance, self-reliance, resilience, spiritual good, eco-ethical/moral integrity, virtuous life, courage, humility and hospitality