Yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari said that his administration would henceforth take agriculture seriously, saying that crude oil and gas exports would no longer be sufficient as the country’s major revenue earner.
The President stated that his government would cut short the long bureaucratic processes that Nigerian farmers had to go through to get any form of assistance from government, stating that it's time Nigerians took Agriculture seriously.
The President Buhari spoke when he received Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, the Nigerian born President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), at the Presidential Villa on Friday.
The President said: “It’s time to go back to the land. We must face the reality that the petroleum we had depended on for so long will no longer suffice. We campaigned heavily on agriculture, and we are ready to assist as many as want to go into agricultural ventures,”. The president said that improvement of the productivity of farmers, dry season farming, and creative ways to combat the shrinking of the Lake Chad will also be given the necessary attention.
“There is so much to be done. We will try and articulate a programme and consult organizations like IFAD for advice,” the President said, adding that foreign exchange will be conserved for machinery and other items needed for production, “instead of using it to import things like toothpicks.”
He told the IFAD President that improvement of the productivity of farmers, dry season farming and creative ways to combat the shrinking of the Lake Chad would also receive his administration’s attention.
Dr. Nwanze congratulated President Buhari on his victory at the general elections and assured him that IFAD was ready to give all possible assistance to the Federal Government and Nigerian farmers to boost agricultural production in the country.
IFAD is an international organization dedicated to addressing issues of agriculture and poverty alleviation. For more scintillating and juicy stories, follow the official Naijapals accounts On Twitter - @Naijapals and Facebook - www.facebook.com/naijapals
I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist
Posted: at 8-08-2015 06:10 AM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero
Let's see wat u will do abt it since d north no longer produce anythg like b4 wen u will piramide of groundnuts and so many fresh crops for exporting. So far GEJ is d only one dat have done well in agriculture. Let's see wat u will do.
Posted: at 8-08-2015 07:50 AM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero
Lol @ misterjohn, pls stop disgracing urself nd face reality, any country that wants to develop must diversify it's economy, among the richest pple in usa are farmers, nd let me remind you before the discovery of oil, Nigeria source of income was agriculture, go nd do more research on strategies for sustainable development.
Posted: at 8-08-2015 08:00 AM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
I wept for my beloved country Nigeria after watching the video in the early days of Nigeria when Prime Minister Abubakar Belewa Visited USA July 25Th 1961, What a glorious welcome of a Hero and Great Nation of Nigeria, What happen to the legacy and pride of Nigeria? Just imagine Cameroon and Gabon deporting Nigerias, what a shame of a country were leaders loot treasury of the people to enrich themselves
Posted: at 8-08-2015 12:41 PM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
How I wish government will just makes sure that all NYSC corpers doing farming before they receive their service certificate..everybody just want a white collar job who then will farm?
Posted: at 8-08-2015 04:39 PM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
Agreed with the president. Agriculture was the mainstay of this country up till the oil started booming. I will blame the army for neglecting this sector for a long time when they were in government.
Posted: at 8-08-2015 05:21 PM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Alternative agriculture is always raised when they want to embezzle money .Check through our past regimes from Obasanjo till Gej the agriculture fund ends up in their personal farms and their friends.
Posted: at 8-08-2015 08:16 PM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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