Food security: Lawmaker urges government, individuals to invest in agriculture
A lawmaker, Mr Hilary Bisong, has
appealed to the three tiers of government to give priority to the
agricultural sector to ensure food security in the country.
Bisong, PDP, representing Boki II state
constituency in the Cross River House of Assembly, made the appeal in Calabar.
He said that according priority to the
agricultural sector would improve food production, food sufficiency,
reduce unemployment and poverty and boost socio-economic development
of the country.
Bisong further said that if much
attention was given to the sector, majority of unemployed graduates
would venture into agriculture and become self-reliant.
Bisong said for the country to overcome
its present economic challenges, both government and individuals must
increase investment in agriculture to improve the living standards of
Nigerians.
“Before the discovery of crude oil,
agriculture used to be the main source of our national revenue, but
with the discovery of oil, we relegated agriculture to the
background.
“The three tiers of government must
place premium on agriculture. Irrespective of our positions in the
society, we must all go back to agriculture to ensure food security
in the country.
“If youths and other Nigerians
embrace farming, it will not only reduce over dependence on oil, but
the present hardship and economic challenges facing the nation will
also be a thing of the past.
“Prices of food items in the market
have sky-rocketed, there is an urgent need for government to invest
massively in agriculture.
“The planting season is around the
corner, as a stakeholder and politician; I will support my
constituents who are into farming with yam seedlings and other grains
to enhance their productivity,’’ he said.
He advised youths to shun idleness,
embrace skills acquisition programmes and engage in other meaningful
activities to make them self reliant.
The lawmaker assured his constituents
of his commitment to initiate people-oriented programmes that would
uplift their standard of living.
Comments
Post a Comment