By Fabian Ekeruche
Lagos – Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, on Thursday said the Federal Government invested in rich seeds developed by research institutes to revolutionise agriculture in the country.
Ogbeh stated this while giving a goodwill message at the 2nd First Bank Agric. Expo 2018 with the theme: “Innovating for a Sustainable Green Economy,’’ in Lagos.
According to the minister, this resulted a situation whereby Nigeria now exports more than it imports due to increase in both the population and output of farmers.
Ogbeh said the government was encouraged by the commitment of the bank to bringing farmers together to discuss the challenges, prospects and the future of agriculture in the country.
“First bank has been a backbone to many farmers. We must protect the banks and those who lend money to farmers. We are very grateful to you for your continued commitment to Nigeria,’’ Ogbeh said.
In his Goodwill Message, Dr Okechukwu Enelemah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, noted that agriculture was one of the key priorities of the present administration.
“If you look at the passion of the government, agriculture is number one,’’ Enelemah said.
Enelemah hoped that First bank would continue to promote agriculture through the expo in the years to come.
The minister noted that the government was committed to creating the enabling environment for agribusiness to flourish.
He added that Public Private Partnership (PPP) was pivotal to ensuring agribusiness was taken to the next level.
Dr Doyin Salami of the Lagos Business School (LBS) said agriculture was a major contribution of output and foreign exchange earnings.
Salami stated this while delivering a keynote presentation titled, “Innovating for a Sustainable Green Economy.’’
The don said a green economy was characterised by renewable energy, eco-friendly, low carbon emission, industrialisation, waste management and recycling.
He noted that given the nation’s population, the country needed to look for a more sustainable means of feeding its population.
He said the quality of agricultural production and yield left much to be desired, and that Nigeria had the lowest deployment of fertilizer.
On the way forward, the don said technology and big data were needed for Nigeria to make progress in agriculture and be able to feed its teeming population.
The don said technology was a major enabler of development in an agro-economy.
“We must be able to decide and articulate the kind of technology to deploy,’’ Salami said.
The economist noted that innovation in agriculture may not be possible without research and development.
Earlier in her welcome address, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, Chairperson, Board of Directors of First Bank, said it was important to feed the theming populace.
“I believe that with the commitment of the government to agriculture, we as a bank agreed to play a critical role in agriculture. What we see today is only part of that commitment,’’ Awosika said.
Also, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, MD/CEO First bank of Nigeria & its subsidiaries, said the second edition of the agric. expo was indicative of the commitment of the bank to promoting agriculture for national development.
He noted that the bank had collaborated with the CBN to assist small scale farmers take agribusiness to the next level.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event attracted about 30 exhibitors, many investors and visitors.
(NAN)
