‘Agric funding, research findings will boost Nigeria’s economy’

There are multitudes of our people engaged in agricultural production. Most of them are necessarily subsistent-farmers because they lack access to sufficient funds, good seeds, mechanisation, processing and ready market.Agricultural funding must as of necessity be long term, of low interest and timely. Access to good seeds, other inputs such as relevant fertilisers and mechanisation […]

There are multitudes of our people engaged in agricultural production. Most of them are necessarily subsistent-farmers because they lack access to sufficient funds, good seeds, mechanisation, processing and ready market.
Agricultural funding must as of necessity be long term, of low interest and timely. Access to good seeds, other inputs such as relevant fertilisers and mechanisation will dramatically improve the yield of crops. Processing will enable farmers to get higher values for their ‘produce’ which will translate into ‘competitive advantage’.
A good and well-funded research unit is an invaluable ingredient in agribusiness. This is a good tool for boosting production by improving the acquisition of disease resistant, highly prolific and adaptable seeds.
The provision of adequate funding for our research institutes and the proper utilisation of their findings will engender rapid improvement in agricultural production. Nigeria will not only be self-sufficient in food but will be a net exporter of processed products which will attract foreign exchange.
The Nigerian agricultural economy will attain the optimum push necessary for growth that is real and pocket-friendly if the energy requirement for processing, including cold and dry storage, is made a priority and met forthwith.
And AFAN (All Farmers Association of Nigeria) is more than ever before, poised to partner with government to enable Nigerians attain self-sufficiency and prosperity!

Architect Kabir Ibrahim is the National President of AFAN and can be reached on [email protected].