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By Chukwuma Umeorah
With the agricultural sector seen as Nigeria’s next critical means of economic survival, after the oil and gas sector, members of the organised private sector (OPS) have identified critical measures that will support the growth of the sector.
Chief executive officer, Center for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Muda Yusuf, has said that for the sector to attain remarkable development there is need for the involvement of youths, policy reforms and adoption of technology.
Delivering a lecture at the 38th Omolayole Management Lecture, themed “Sustainable Development of the Agricultural Sector for National Well-being”, in Lagos, the seasoned economist highlighted the numerous bottlenecks facing the agricultural sector and how these challenges can be addressed for the sector to flourish.
The Aiesec Alumni Nigeria (AAN), in conjunction with National Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), Chartered Institute of Personnel Management in Nigeria (CIPM) and Lagos Chambers of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), all of which Michael Omolayole was president in the past, normally organize the annual event in his honour.
According to Yusuf, the agricultural sector will develop remarkably if the energetic populations of Nigerian youths are involved given their contribution to other aspects of the economy.
He said that in order to make the sector attractive to the youths, there is need for the adoption of modern technology in farming activities and in the business of Agriculture.
“It is very important that we harness the energy of the youth in the area of agriculture. We are all witnesses to what the youths are doing in the electoral space, in ICT, entertainment, music and quite a number of areas, but in agriculture, we are yet to take advantage of the fact that we have a youthful population. That has created a situation where we have an ageing population in agriculture, particularly at the primary level. That narrative needs to change to move our agricultural sector forward,” Yusuf said.
Further emphasizing on the use of technology, Yusuf suggested the use of biotechnology and the exploration of agro-genetic engineering in order to bridge demand-supply gap.
He said, “The concept of biotechnology and genetic engineering is very critical. We need to move more in that direction so that we can have agricultural products that can mature within a very short time and grow better yield.
“That is the way to close the gap between the demand for food and the supply of food.”
He also noted that technology could be used to improve the quality of agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, feeds among others.
With regard to policy reforms, Yusuf said that there is urgent need to review government policies concerned with agriculture and the macroeconomic environment.
According to him, there are too many government policies stifling the practice of agriculture in the country.
He pointed out that some of these policies affect research institutions, financial institutions and support systems, which by implication restrict their ability to fund or assist farmers with loans or other credit incentives.
He pointed out that farmers are faced with issues across all level of the value chain such as access to fund and input, troubles with import and export and that the current inflation rate and foreign exchange are worsening the plight of farmers.
He called for the introduction of sustainability frameworks to ‘conserve, protect and enhance agriculture.’
Other areas the lecturer laid emphasis were the need for improved infrastructures like storage and processing plants for farm produce, improved land reforms systems, educational system, security, electricity, mechanization and the improvement of living conditions in rural areas where farming is common.
In his remarks, the grand patron of Omolayole Management Lecture and in whose name the event was founded, Dr. Michael Omolayole stressed the relevance of agriculture in nation building.
He urged the public to take seriously the activity of the business of agriculture and to play their individual role in its sustainability and the development of the economy.
He said, “Agriculture should be dear to every Nigerian because, a lot of countries have used agriculture as a stepping stone to industrialization and to prosperity. Every country once started as an agrarian society. If only all those in the corridors of power in the country will take the suggestions brought up today and put them practice, then we will achieve significant prosperity.”
The Society for the Advancement of Local Talents and Virtue in Management presented awards of excellence to the MD of Procter and Gamble Nigeria, Mokutima Ajileye and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Chemical and Allied Products (CAP) Plc, Bolarin Okunowo, for their remarkable achievements.
