‘Good policies alone can’t transform agriculture’

He spoke against the backdrop of the recent inauguration of the policy working group for the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the federal government. Architect Ibrahim exclusively told Daily Trust recently  in Abuja, that in order to make agriculture an attractive business, a holistic approach must be adopted.  It would be recalled that the Minister […]

He spoke against the backdrop of the recent inauguration of the policy working group for the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the federal government.
Architect Ibrahim exclusively told Daily Trust recently  in Abuja, that in order to make agriculture an attractive business, a holistic approach must be adopted.  
It would be recalled that the Minister of Agriculture Dr. Akinwumi Adesina constituted a 15-member committee made up of 14 professors and a doctor to fashion out policies that will effectively drive the country’s agricultural transformation programmes.
Reacting to the setting up of the committee, the AFAN President said it was a good initiative, adding: “No amount of good policies without adequate funding and effective implementation of such policies can make the required change in the agricultural sector of this country.
“Agriculture needs a lot of funding to become an attractive business in Nigeria. Even the 10% Maputo Declaration which we are far below is not enough. We need to dedicate about 20% of our national budget to agriculture for proper impact to be made in the sector.”
Architect Ibrahim, a poultry farmer, pointed out that in other countries where agriculture is placed in the front burner, a lot of money is injected into the sector to assist farmers.
He urged government to go beyond making sound agricultural policies and ensure implementation of same to move the sector forward.
On the agricultural machinery and equipment hiring services programme launched in Abuja recently, the poultry farmer advised the government to take the programme beyond the ceremonial fanfare and make the tractors and equipment timely available to farmers across the country.