Expert calls for increased investment in agric sector to reduce importation


 Mr Bidemi Ojeleye, Director, Centre for Bee Research & Development (CEBRAD), Ibadan, on Tuesday called for more investment in the agriculture sector to reduce importation of agricultural products.
Ojeleye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that government at all levels should allocate more funds to the sector to motivate farmers to improve food production in the country.
NAN recalls that the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, had said that the country spends a total of $2 billion annually to import agricultural products into the country.
According to him, the large import of food products includes wheat, rice, flour, fish, tomato paste, eggs, textile and sugar.
The Minister had stressed the need to diversify Nigeria’s economy by developing other sectors of the economy, especially agriculture.
According to Ojeleye, investing in agriculture is critical especially now that the nation’s economy is going through its own downturn.
`` The sector has what it takes to turn the economy around and create wealth in the long run, if adequately harnessed.’’
Ojeleye said that the government could also sustain the country’s agriculture sector by increasing the tariffs on imported agricultural foods and produce.
The agriculturalist urged all tiers of government to make opportunities in the sector to be realisable by creating environment conducive for more private sectors’ involvement.
`` It is a fact that the private sector has the financial means to drive the agricultural sector and improve its value chain over time.
`` Private participants are also in a better position to manage the agricultural sector effectively as a business.
``Indeed, boosting the sector offers vast prospects to create value and wealth as well as generate jobs for many young Nigerians,’’ the CEBRAD director said.

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