Diversification: Experts call for synergy of Agric policies

The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTs) has urged the Federal Government to prioritise synergizing old and existing policies on Agriculture to ensure the success of their implementation and the diversification drives of the present administration. The President of NANTs Kenneth Ukaoha made the plea in Abuja at a two-day "High level Consultation on the […]

The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTs) has urged the Federal Government to prioritise synergizing old and existing policies on Agriculture to ensure the success of their implementation and the diversification drives of the present administration.

The President of NANTs Kenneth Ukaoha made the plea in Abuja at a two-day "High level Consultation on the Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP)" organised by NANTS, USAID and Africa Lead.

The Federal Government recently launched the national economic policy roadmap for the Agricultural sector tagged: "The Green Alternative: Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP), 2016-2020" to replace the previous government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of 2011-2015.

Ukaoha said the APP document details strategies to revive the agricultural sector to boost food production and create job in line with the overall economic thrust of diversification of the government and that there is urgent need to identify the roles and responsibilities of all actors to ensure effective implementation of the APP.

"There is need for stakeholders buy-in and participation to ease implementation. There is also need for proper designation of roles and responsibilities that manifest in effective collaboration and coordination. Also is that the Non State Actors (NSAs) including the Parliamentarians must be adequately informed and prepared to play their oversight roles and hold government at all levels accountable," he said.

He stressed the importance of making the states and local governments to adapt the APP to ensure domestic ownership for successful implementation.

A deputy director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Engr. Ambrose Udoh, Innocent Azih, Emeka Ngene and Manson Nwafor of ECOWAS spoke on various means of ensuring the success of the new policy.