Agric remains economy backbone, produce wholesome food for Nigeria- AFAN President, DAWN DG, NABG, Oyo govt tell farmers

 Gabriel Abioye

 The National President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kabir Ibrahim; the Director-General of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria {DAWN} Commission, Dr. Seye Oyeleye; the Director-General, Nigeria Agribusiness Group {NABG},  Jafar Umar and the Oyo State Government, yesterday, urged farmers to produce wholesome food for the country, saying agriculture remains the backbone of the Nigerian economy.

 They made the call during a two-day regional agribusiness sensitisation initiative organised by the NABG  and supported by Innovation Lab for Policy Leadership in Agriculture and Food Security {PiLAF}, in collaboration with DAWN Commission at Adis Hotel, Ibadan.

 Ibrahim,who spoke virtually,  said the NABG is concerned with the farmers getting values for what they produce.

The AFAN president said: ‘’This is the continuation of the programme that the NEBG has been pursuing over several months. We have had workshops in various places and we intend to do a lot more in three selected geo-political zones. We intend to sensitise the smallholder producers or small holder farmers as to the possibilities in agribusiness by sensitising them to the need to standardise their products for marketability, to also do climate-smart agriculture, to use good agricultural practices in all their production to be able to export whatever they produce and making the whole country quite comfortable. 

 ‘’It is important for them to recognise all these possibilities.  It is incumbent on us to know that there is a policy guideline on seeds, fertilizers and soil that we need to adhere in order to make what we do successful.

‘’I urge you to produce by asking questions and getting good   essential services so that whatever we produce will have the value added that is necessary for marketability.

‘’The NABG is concerned with their products. It is only now that the farmers are getting values for what they produce. But if you go outside people are crying over food prices hike but farmers are naturally happy that they are getting the best from their hard work. I urge you to guard this jealously and produce wholesome food for Nigeria so that our children will be healthy and we will be able to add value to nation building’’.  

Represented  by the  DAWN Commission’s Head of Economic Development and Research, Dr. Adesoji  Farayibi,  Oyeleye said agriculture remains the backbone of our economy and the policies we put in place today will determine the future of the vital sector.

 Oyeleye said: ‘’ I commend the Nigerian Agribusiness Group (NABG) and PiLAF for their commitment to advancing the Agribusiness sector in Nigeria. As a commission dedicated to development, we remain steadfast our commitment to advancing Agribusiness, particularly within the Southwest region in collaboration with the  Commissioners for Agriculture in each state and various stakeholders in the region.

"Together we can build a vibrant and resilient agriculture sector that will not only feed our nation but also drive economic growth and development".

 On his part, DG, NABG said: ‘’With the current food crisis we are facing in the country, it has become more imperative that agriculture is taken seriously and as a business to ensure availability of food in the country. The NABG has been working at the policy environment  with several partners for  the  initiatives that will get us to the point where we will have  sufficient food’’. 

Also speaking, Dr. Benjamin Oyelami of PiLAF, University of Ibadan, called on the government to address insecurity,  prepare for climate change, make room for irrigation and supporting agriculture very well and research to guarantee food security.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye represented by the Deputy Director, Planning ,Research and Statistics Department  of the ministry, Mrs. Funke Adeniran-Adediran, called for partnership with private investors to get higher agricultural yields.

The commissioner said: ‘’I will like to inform you that the present administration is keenly interested in the development of Agriculture through direct funding, counterpart funding and private investment but government cannot do it all alone, therefore the administration believes  strongly in partnership arrangement, strategies with private sectors and diasporas people and good working relationships with interested investors’’.

 In her remarks, the Secretary-General of NABG, Mrs. Olubukola Nwaneri said the new oil is agriculture.