Asaba – Mr Jerry Ossai, a former Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Delta chapter, has urged Nigerians to take advantage of the nation’s natural resources by embarking on agriculture.
Ossai made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Asaba.
He said that one of the major ways of reviving the nation’s economy “is to harness the natural resources of the country’’.
“Nigeria is a rich and blessed country where all the natural resources are in abundance. We cannot continue to live in poverty when the nation is blessed with great natural resources.
“Apart from oil, there are solid minerals like coal; we also have palm oil, cassava, maize and different varieties of vegetables as well as poultry.
“If we can settle down to harness these natural resources, Nigeria will be a country to reckon with in years to come,’’ Ossai said.
He appealed to government at all levels to make agriculture attractive by investing more in it in order to attract more youths into the sector.
According to him, when the government is able to make agriculture attractive, people will willingly take to agriculture, especially youths who are unemployed.
He said that government at all levels should give agriculture the ultimate attention in the country.
Ossai also urged the government to create an enabling environment for agriculture to thrive by supporting farmers with the necessary equipment, especially, those in mechanised farming.
“The provision of storage facility as well as creating a good market for agricultural produce will also encourage more people to go into agriculture,’’ he said. (NAN)