Nigerians have been charged not to see Agriculture as a development activity any longer but rather as a business.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina stated this at the National flag-off/launch and distribution of African Development Bank inputs and equipment under the flood disaster relief support in Lokoja, Kogi State.
Towards making Agriculture attractive, the Federal Government the Minister noted has began the rapid modernisation and mechanisation of the sector.
Dr. Akinwumi urged Nigerians to start creating wealth from Agriculture as it has the potentials of providing jobs for Nigerian teaming graduates and for income generation.
The Minister called on farmers in the country to be productive, for them to be prosperous, described last year’s flood as disturbing in Kogi State, but thanked God that the State is able to recover.
Towards overcoming the present challenge posed by climate change, the Minister called for better planning, early release of seedlings and proactive measures that will help improve productivity.
In his speech, Capt. Idris Wada, the Kogi State Governor, represented by his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, said the State Government has began an Agricultural Development Programme, said the State Government has presently cleared 3,000 hectares of land for dry season farming to make up for washed farmlands during the flood.
The State Governor, commended the ADB for its gestures describing it as humane and generous.
Earlier in his speech, the National project co-ordinator, FADAMA Development Project, Chief Tayo Adewumi, commended ADB for the release of N400 million and the Federal Government’s N9 billion support to flood affected states, described the flood disaster as an experience that brought untold hardship on people of Kogi State.
Dr. Femi Abolarin, the State Commissioner of Agriculture, commended the ADB gestures, said it will enable vast majority of the farmers who had their farmlands washed away, remain in business adding that the State aside support to the farmers who were affected, have also encouraged Council Areas in the State not affected by the flood to go into intensive farming.
