FG, ACCI woo investors for agricultural revolution

The Federal Government on Tuesday appealed to stakeholders from local and international communities to take advantage of the growing interest in the agricultural sector to invest in large-scale mechanised farming.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, made the plea at the maiden edition of a three-day Farm, Food, and Allied Technologies Expo in Abuja.

The event was organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with Afreximbank and Autodex Nigeria Limited.

Kyari, who was represented by his ministry’s Director of Agribusiness and Market Development Department, Adegbenro Adebiyi emphasised that the huge turnout of participants at the exhibition was a testament to the vital role the sector plays in the nation’s economy and well-being of the people.

He said, “It is heart-warming that agriculture is fast becoming the buzz across trade and investment circles, particularly in the face of the perennially dwindling oil prices and the FG’s desire to diversify the economy to boost productivity and revenue base of the nation.

“The current policy on agriculture is to have the private sector in the driver’s seat while the government provides an enabling environment to make agriculture a business and haven for investment instead of a development programme as was the case in the past.

“We will not relent in the giant stride in creating sufficient agribusiness linkages between the farmers and the processors to increase the present level of agricultural value addition, reduction of post-harvest losses to achieve food security and wealth creation.”

Earlier in his address, the President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief Emeka Obegolu, shared the same sentiment.

Obegolu stressed that the event was organised to stimulate interest in stakeholders to revolutionise agricultural innovation and strengthen partnerships, particularly between Nigeria and China.

“Agriculture, as we know, is the heartbeat of our nation, providing livelihoods to millions, sustaining communities and bolstering our economy. However, in today’s rapidly changing world, the sector faces a host of challenges from climate change to financing and from fluctuating markets to the urgent need for modern infrastructure and technology.

“As we know, agriculture is a time-honoured profession undergoing a rapid evolution, powered by technological advancements. At the Abuja Chamber of Commerce, our interest lies in securing a robust economy, which includes promoting and supporting sectors like agriculture that contribute substantially to our nation’s GDP.

“Through this expo, we aim to spotlight investment opportunities in the agro-allied sector, engage policymakers to support this vital industry and encourage policies to propel economic and individual growth,” he stated.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who was one of the guest speakers, however, harped on the need to provide security for the Nigerian farmers.

Musa, who was represented by the Director of Policy at the Defence Headquarters, Major General Isa Abdullahi, also drummed up support for large-scale and mechanised farming, warning that up to 33 million Nigerians would become vulnerable to hunger in the coming months if something drastic is not done to ensure food sufficiency.

He said, “Nigeria is not alone in the struggle to attain food security. This is because agricultural activities are severely hampered by armed conflict as well as weather shocks as a result of climate change. In realization of the imminent threat to food security, a number of countries around the world adopted a military approach as an emergency response.

“The prolonged unrests caused by insurgency, banditry and farmers/herders clashes across regions of Nigeria have hindered farming. To counter this, the DHQ has made operational arrangements to prioritize the protection of farmers’ successful harvests across the country.

“Moreover, to address the effects of weather shocks, the need arises to invest in agricultural infrastructure to embrace all seasons of farming. As the Federal Government is focused on the cultivation of over 10 million hectares of arable lands across the country, this expo is an avenue to develop practical solutions in achieving the National Food Security Scheme.”