Kaduna – A don, Prof. Mailafiya Filaba, on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to invest in agricultural mechanisation to transform the sector in its drive to diversify the economy.
Filaba made the call in a paper entitled: “Unlocking the Nigeria’s Industrial Logjam by Diversifying the Economy,“ which he presented at the 5th International Social and Management Science Research conference, Kaduna.
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News Agency of Nigeria reports that the conference was organised by the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Kaduna State University (KASU), with the theme: “Economic Diversification, Corporate Governance and Insecurity in an Emerging Democracy. “
Filaba, who is the Head of History Department, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, said that not much would be achieved in the agricultural sector if the challenges of mechanisation were not addressed.
According to him, Nigeria needs mechanisation to successfully transform the agricultural sector, by completely moving away from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.
He, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to provide huge capital in the area of mechanisation that would drive the sector, “otherwise, agriculture in Nigeria would remain unprofitable and unattractive.
“Nigerian youths do not like agriculture because it is labour-intensive and unprofitable, but it could be made attractive if government can address the problem of mechanisation.
“This is because, mechanisation would ensure high yield and high returns on investment, as such would attract huge investment, given the abundant agricultural resources in the country. “
The lecturer described diversification as one of the major approaches to attain economic growth and industrialisation.
The don, however, lamented that Nigeria since independence has failed to make any industrial breakthrough due to policy somersaults and massive corruption.
“Since the First Republic, there have been so many policies on how to diversify the economy, particularly agriculture and the mining sector, but it has not been vigorously pursued due to corruption and counter-productive polices.
“There was no reasonable achievement in agriculture and mining sectors because the policies were not backed up with finances to pursue them to logical conclusion due to corruption.
“Also, a lot of government policies are anti-development. Government can create policies, which they think is good but in the end, they are counter-productive.
“Policies like agric subsidy removal; over relying on foreigners for development; exploration left in the hands of multinational corporations; and preference for expatriates who are mostly artisans in their countries among others, “ he said.
Earlier, KASU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. William Qurix, said that the conference was timely, considering the current administration’s commitment toward diversifying the nation’s economy.
Represented by Prof. Alexander Kure, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Qurix said the conference provides avenue for intellectual discourse on the current economic crisis in the country, with a view to fashioning a way out.
Also, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr Abdul Bello, President, Kaduna Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), said the private sector has a role to play in the current drive to transform the solid mineral sector.
He reiterated KADCCIMA`s readiness to partner with the Federal Government on solid mineral development and agriculture, stressing that they hold the key towards revamping Nigeria’s economy. (NAN)