President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday joined other panelists comprising African leaders at the High-Level Closing Plenary of Grow Africa, held at the Sheraton Hotels, Abuja.
He commended world leaders for attending the World Economic Forum on Africa in Abuja, despite the recent twin terror attacks at Nyanya, a suburb of the Federal Capital City.
Other panelists at the session on the importance of agriculture as a business are: Presidents of Tanzania Jakaya Kiweta, Paul Kigame of Rwanda, Boni Yayi of Benin Republic and Prime Minister of Cote d Ivore, Daniel Duncan.
Speaking at the session, President Jonathan reiterated Nigeria’s resolve to ensure self sufficiency in rice production by 2015-2016 for domestic and export.
According to him, turning agriculture to business would generate jobs, reduce poverty and hunger. The theme of the session is: A Leadership Agenda for Investing in African Agriculture.
President Jonathan opined that Africa must create the enabling environment for private investors to get returns on their investments in agriculture.
Jonathan said, “No country can claim to be developed if you cannot feed yourself”, hence the decision by his administration to dedicate 30 per cent of agric funds to women.
“You have to create environment to encourage investment because businessmen do not run charity organisations. That is why we are now looking at agriculture as a business. The youths before now see agriculture as something that is left for the poor and old people in the village with traditional instruments.
“If you invest in agriculture you will make returns on your investment. Agriculture is key because people must eat food no matter the situation. You can be sick and choose not to go to the hospital but you must eat every day”.
He also spoke on food sufficiency, saying Nigeria’s import bill was very high because it imports almost everything, adding “that is why we are producing food for local consumption as well as to create jobs for our young people.
“There is a unique opportunity in agriculture because you will create jobs, achieve food nutrition and empower women.
“Before now leaning to farmers were 2.5 percent but presently is 5 per cent and we are targeting a higher percentage.
“Before now African leaders were playing politics with agriculture but today the story has change.
“In Nigerian we dedicated 30 per cent of loans to women and encourage young men and women to be interested in modern agriculture. Financial inclusion is one of the limitation discouraging young people from investing in agriculture but if we encourage them they will be attracted to the sector”.
He concluded by saying all these policies were being implemented and that is why Nigeria was achieving success.
Other panelists also spoke on the need to maximize the benefits of transforming agriculture into a business for the benefits of their citizens.
