The National Committee of Heads of Colleges of Agriculture and Related Disciplines (NACHCARD) has called on the Federal Government to focus on maintaining the agricultural transformation policies towards sustainable economic growth.
A Communique at the end of their 2nd national conference in Ibadan on Saturday highlighted the position of the various key speakers on the nation’s agric sector.
The chairman of the committee, Dr. Oluyemi Akande said Nigeria must reposition the agricultural sector as a means of economic diversification, food security and combating general insecurity problems in post COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Akande stressed that the true wealth of any nation lies in her ability to produce food and earn foreign exchange adding that there was need for interface among farmers, industries, institutions producing manpower and end users of agricultural products and services.
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The chairman said Nigeria must work towards a stable and improved agro-economic benefit for the country.
In his presentation, Prof. Olugbenga A. Ogunwole, from the University of Ibadan who examined the factors affecting food security said Nigeria must intensify the production of safe, quality and affordable food products.
Prof. Ogunwole said there was need for governments at all levels to contribute significantly to agricultural processes from “start to finish” and ensure the delivery of certified food products to final consumers.
On his part, Dr. Akinyemi Fadiyimu, Provost/Chief Executive Officer, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, stated that the post 2023 social economic agenda must be centered on economic recovery and national prosperity through increased economic diversification with agriculture as a key vehicle for this policy direction.
He said a competitive edge must be developed in Nigerian agriculture as a focal point of economic diversification, including leveraging on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).