The Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development, Chief Audu Ogbe has called for synergy in agricultural sector among states to boost productivity and ensure food security in Nigeria.
The minister who disclosed this during the opening
ceremony of the council’s meeting at the 43rd
National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development
conference in Umuahia, Abia state, identified agriculture as the highest employer of labour.
The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Mohammed
Bello Umar reiterated Federal Government commitment to increase agricultural productivity, reduce
food importation and implement programmes that promote food safety and security among others.
He further charged stakeholders to recommit themselves to the
development of the agriculture sector, adding that it was key to jobs creation and good health.
Speaking on this year’s theme: “Consolidating the Strategies of Agricultural Promotion Policy for Economic
Diversification and Growth” he maintained that the Federal Government is committed
to making the country an agriculture export hub.
Ogbeh also opined that there is a need for the council meeting to focus on providing a policy direction that would yield
improved enabling environment for investors, attainment
of food security and sustainable livelihood in Nigeria.
The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, has
appealed to participants to discuss as well as evolve best policies and programmes on agriculture from
various perspectives.
Adamu, who was represented by Mrs Christy Odua of the
ministry, said that the ministry of water resources would
continually collaborate with the ministry of agriculture and rural development to promote food sufficiency.
He expressed hope that the outcome of the council meeting would make a positive impact on the socio-economic growth of the country.
The Minister of State for
Agriculture and Rural Development, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, has revealed that the Federal
Government was focusing on utilising agribusiness undertakings to improve socio-economic development in the country.
Lokpobiri, who was represented by Mr Azeez Muyiwa
said that the Federal Government was focused on implementing programmes and policies that would encourage economic growth.
He said that the meeting would endeavour to satisfy the Federal Government’s yearning to grow agriculture,
diversify the economy, ensure food security and empower
the citizenry.
Meanwhile the Abia state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu said that diversifying the economy from Oil mono – economy by growing the Agric sector remains the future for the nations economy and businesses.
Dr. Ikpeazu who stated this while officially declaring open the 43rd meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development, pointed out that with the unabated fluctuations in crude Oil prices globally, there is an urgent need for seriousness in the diversification of the economy to optimise value and benefits from the agricultural value chain.
The Governor represented by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu advised that the various agricultural finance progress such as the commended CBN Anchor Borrowers programs should be made less cumbersome to give the real farmers access to funding while banks and financial institutions should continue to extend credit facilities to operators in the Agro – Allied Industry ranging from Oil palm production and processing , Cocoa production and procession , Rice production among others for local consumption and export thereby earning foreign exchange for the nation.
He disclosed that the present administration under his leadership in its commitment to transforming the state into an industrial / economic destination with the agricultural sector playing a pivotal role through massive support for Oil palm, Cassava , Rice and poultry value chain among others govt adopted Agriculture as one of its cardinal policy pillars to grow and drive the Abia economy.
The governor expressed government’s determination to continue to partner the world bank and federal govt and other agencies in all agricultural projects through prompt payment of counterpart contributions.
He described the theme of the event as very apt and timely given its emphasis on the attainment of food security, employment generation and wealth creation in the states and nation at large.
Contributing, Senator Theodore Orji, representing Abia Central and the deputy chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture said that
the deliberations of the council would make a positive impact on the nation if well implemented.
Orji also challenged the council to come up with policies that will
permanently end herders/farmers
clash and their attendant crises in Nigeria.
The Country Representative of Food
and Agricultural Organisation of the UN in Nigeria, Mr Suffyan Koroma, has commended the Federal Government for its achievements
in the agriculture sector in the last four years.
Koroma, who was represented by Dr Ahmed Matani
called on the Federal Government to create greater
alignment with the states to domesticate the Agricultural
Promotion Policy.
By Chukwuemeka Egejuru, Charles Ogbonna and Okere Ugochinyere
