LAGOS – Victoria Hanson In a bid to boost the economic growth of the country, stakeholders have proffered solutions to agricultural challenges in Nigeria.
Speaking on Tuesday in Lagos at an international conference on Agriculture, Prof. Danbala Danju, Managing Director /CEO Bank of Agriculture, said Nigeria should focus on agricultural products that could be exported.
He spoke on “Financing Agriculture For Economic Growth In Nigeria”.
To guarantee food security, Prof Danju, said measures must be put in place to check population explosion.
He also stressed the need for Nigerian farmers to embrace mechanised farming so as to ensure food sufficiency and create jobs.
Prof Danju therefore, opined that concerted efforts must be geared towards factors militating against access to funds to finance agriculture.
Also speaking, Mr Ahmed Bashir, British Deputy High Commissioner and Director of Trade and Investment, said that Agriculture contributes to the growth of the country.
He said that United Kingdom employed 450 thousand people in Agricultural sector, while 96 thousands are employed in food production.
Bashir who spoke on “the Role of Agriculture In National Development, The experience of United Kingdom,” said in order to boost farming business effectively in UK, they buy guarantees from bank loans and also arrange people to sell out the products.
On his part, Mr Bashir Haliru Binji, Managing Director /CEO Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation said that food security has been a greater challenge in Nigeria despite the efforts of farmers.
Others who spoke include Dr (Mrs) Gloria Elemo, DG/ CEO, Nigeria’s foremost Research Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, Mr Victor Okoro MD /CEO Great Works Concept, Mr Emmanuel Ijewere (managing partner Emmanuel Ijewere and Co. among other agriculture stakeholders.
