Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Sabo Nanono, says Agro-industrialisation is Nigeria’s key to economic viability.
The Minister who was speaking during the South-South Agro-Industrial Inspection and Town Hall Meeting in Calabar, Cross River State, over the weekend
said Agro-industrialization would reduce the high rate of unemployment, guarantee food security and advance the level of trade and investments in the agricultural sector as a veritable strategy to diversify the economy.
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Nanono noted that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is presently committed to creating jobs and that the on-going review of agricultural policy is aimed at refocusing on technology and innovation.
He pointed out that the country is on a sure footing towards an agricultural revolution as the government has concluded on a new mechanisation strategy that will guarantee quantum leap in productivity.
In his words: “This mechanisation revolution is going to be launched in 632 local government areas across the country in the next 6 months and will be private sector driven”.
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The Minister called on individuals and groups to come up with proposals on how to increase the viability of the service centres, adding that the Federal Government will guarantee the facilities.
In his remarks, Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade noted that under his administration, the State has made huge investments in the agricultural sector.
The Governor pointed that “cocoa is one of the foremost cash crops with which the State is abundantly blessed with”.
According to him, the productive capacity in the cash crop has placed the state on the position of second highest producer of cocoa in Nigeria.
He said his administration is desiring not to play second fiddle anymore but resolved to commence a radical process that will galvanise capacities and take the State to the premier position in cocoa production in Nigeria within the next 24 months.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
