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Nigeria: 'Heavy Investment in Agriculture Will Solve Food Crisis'
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This Day (Lagos)
8 July 2008
Posted to the web 9 July 2008
Chinazor Megbolu
Lagos
In order to curb the food crisis currently plaguing Nigeria and the world at large, an agricultural expert, Mr. Aiyeola Sunday, has enjoined the Federal Government to invest heavily in agriculture and its various sub-sectors.
Sunday, Managing Director of Fifth Avenue Farms, disclosed this during the recent Certified Institute of Nigerian Economists (CINE) workshop held recently in Lagos.
Speaking on improving agriculture for sustainable development, Sunday called for a careful study of food production; and focus on five vital determinants of economic growth in areas of human resources, natural resources, capital formation, technological development, and socio-political factors.
He described the factors as very crucial to the development and growth of the Nigerian economy; adding that it (growth) could be achieved only when done with discipline, honesty and sincere work ethic as well as commitment to productivity and professionalism.
The expert admonished that though natural resources are passive factor of growth, their use depends on the quality and availability of manpower, capital and technology.
In terms capital formation, he said that the creation of man-made means of production, which include machinery, plants and buildings, means of transportation and communication when adequately applied, could enhance productivity of labour and create a larger quantity of goods and services per unit of time.
He explained that government can protect its citizenry by paying attention to field centered economy, where the comparative advantage lies on agricultural produce.
This, he said, requires about 50 per cent of employable population which can be increased to 75 per cent due to training, and when the produce is shifted to the processing industries which requires 25 per cent of employable population.
Sunday also pointed that more varieties of food will be available for the masses and for export to other countries of the world. The excess can then be stored for future security.
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To do this, he called on the government to put in place marketing board system; farm credit administration scheme; farm settlement programme; rural education scheme in agriculture engineering; water and irrigation scheme; as well as co-operative farming strategies.
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