Tribune Disaster looms if Nigeria fails to achieve self-sufficiency in food production - Jonathan · Written by Christian Okeke—Abuja · Wednesday, 04 September 2013 00:00 President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday, warned that it will be a disaster if the country, which constitutes about 20 per cent of African population, fails to ensure self-sufficiency in food production. This is even as he disclosed that Federal Government was working out policies that would provide cheap interest on loans for farmers, in line with government’s efforts to boost agriculture and make the country self sufficient in food production. Modalities for the cheap loans are being designed by the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, according to the president. Speaking at the 19th Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja, Jonathan maintained that the country’s population was too big for the country to depend on imported food. The summit had as its theme, “Growing agriculture as a business to diversify Nigeria’s economy.” He said, “The importance of food makes our economy vulnerable; we cannot depend on others to feed us. Our population is too big to depend on imported food.” The president insisted that the country must resuscitate the sector and restore its lost glory. According to him, the sector holds the key for renewed hope for the country’s economy, even as he also expressed satisfaction that the middle class currently embraces agriculture as business. He said: “Nigeria is having about 20 per cent of the African population and that alone is a huge market. You cannot be a giant if you cannot feed yourself. A big country like Nigeria must be able to feed itself. “We felt that we needed to go back to agriculture so that we can feed ourselves and also create a rural economy in Nigeria so that they can make a decent living. “We have come to believe that agriculture can make you to have your own private jet. This summit is part of our continuous effort to drive up commitment and encourage the private sector to invest in agriculture. “Agriculture is now being treated as a business in order to diversify our economy, generate employment and create wealth for millions of Nigerians. Our goal is to use agriculture as a spring board for Nigeria’s industrialisation. “That is why we are taking the full value chain option in the development of the agricultural sector. The rice revolution that has been launched across 10 states in the north is a clear demonstration that our farmers. if well supported. can feed the nation. The farmers produce in one dry season one third of the quantity of rice we need to be self sufficient in the country. “Our target is to be self sufficient in rice production and the dry season is expected to produce one third of that requirement. We are well on track and will drive self sufficiency in rice production and we believe that by 2016. “I am pleased that the private sector is expanding investment to the agriculture as they build on government’s commitment to business moulded approach. Local and international agro businesses now see the opportunity across the Agric value chain from seeds, fertilizers, storage, logistics to manufacturing “Government has also sustained the implementation of micro economic policies, sectoral reform initiative to complement the agricultural sector initiatives to enhance growth. “Private sector investors are taking advantage of our abundant natural gas in petrochemical industry policies to establish new fertiliser manufacturing plant. This will in due course reduce the need to import fertilisers and turn Nigeria into the leading fertiliser producing hub in Africa.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 08:06:52 +0000
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