The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) have revealed its readiness to work with the Federal Government in the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, (ERGP), 2017-2020 through agriculture development.
The National President of NACCIMA, Iyalode Alabama Lawson gave the hint in Lagos at the monthly forum organised by the Nigerian Association of Agricultural Journalists (NAAJ) in partnership with Dizengoff Nigeria and Friesland Wamco Campina.
Lawson who was represented by the Chairman, Export Action Group NEXAG, Dr Ade Adefeko, said that the venture was borne out of the two clear strategies under its agriculture programme.
“Going forward, the Association [NACCIMA] aims to work closely with the Federal Government in the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 2017-2020 under its agriculture programme,” she said.
Lawson added that the decision of the association included government’s strategies of boosting productivity of the agriculture sector as well as the use of irrigable land and river basin infrastructure effectively to enable year-round agricultural production.
She maintained that in partnering with the government on the successful implementation of the ERGP, the association would engage the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) involved.
According to her, the association would have the MDAs signify tasks and actions in line with the strategies that could be measured and monitored by the private sector in order to gauge the progress of the plan.
She said despite the negative growth rate of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the agricultural sector had shown consistent growth since the third quarter of 2016.
Giving the statistics, the NACCIMA boss said the growth rate of agriculture in the third quarter of 2016 increased by 4.54 per cent while it recorded 4.03 per cent by the last quarter of the year under review.
However, in first quarter of 2017, she said, it increased by 3.3 per cent saying it was an indication of steady growth within the sector.
“These are in line with overall goal of the association to pursue government-supported, private-sector-driven agriculture-value-chain development, to make agriculture more productive, efficient and competitive and in order to provide enough quality produce for domestic consumption and export,” she stated.
