By Correspondent in Ilorin.
Nigeria needs to maximise the potential in agriculture to create wealth and as part of efforts to diversify the economy to ensure increased and overall developmnt.
Speaking during the five-day training programme in Ilorin, the Executive Director, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Dr. Olufemi Oladunni,made the remark on Wednesday in Ilorin during the training of 45 Agricultursl officials by the Institute.
He was, however, represented by the Head of Finance Department of the institute, Mr. Moses Ibitoye,at the occasion.
Our Correspondent reports that the officials, drawn across Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), were trained on management of agricultural commodity value chain for agribusiness.
“It is not only in industries you maximize wealth, even in Agriculture forum, we maximize wealth. That is why they come up with commodity value chain. When you have value plus risk, your wealth will increase in economy.
“Many people have listened to that gospel of value chain but they are still at the same point. If you are pessimistic, you cannot do it.
“Some people have idea but they are unable to take risk and once you are unable to take risk, you cannot venture into business. Agriculture is a business, so you need risk to be added along,”the executive director said.
The ARMTI boss expressed optimism that the training would bring positive changesin the life of the trainees.
Also speaking, one of the consultant trainers, Professor Okunlola Olaniyi, stressed the need for government to transform the agricultural sector.
“What we are saying is that, there is need for us to transform agriculture in Nigeria from occupation to business.
” When we talk about value chain, we are saying that for every product, there must be value addition and value addition starts from the cultivation to the consumer.
“Even the way we clear our land, we have to add value to it to see that it is done in appropriate way that will make the plant yield and conserve the soil.Like the seed the farmers are planting,many of them are planting grains not seeds.
“Farmers should use improved seeds that will make the plant yield better crops. Also in the process of cultivation, the way we harvest and process crops, we must add value to it in acceptable.
“When we have products that are value-added, that is when we can talk about exportable product. What we produce in Nigeria, mostly now, we can’t export them because they are raw and below the international standard. But when there is value addition, it will reach the international standard and that is when we can now talk about exportation of agricultural product like our cassava.
“We produce cassava in Nigeria. Yes, we are one of the highest producers of cassava in the world. It has zero value because we are not converting. “All over the world, they change it to cheeps and other products that they are exportable,”he noted.
According to the consultant, “when we add value we are bringing in network of linkages that will create employment along the chain, reduce unemployment, make more money and attract people to agriculture.”
He also urged participants to put what they have learnt into practice, saying that people in Agriculture Development Programme(ADP) needed to reorientate farmers, youths and students to cash in on the opportunity of value addition along various products. “so that they can create employment for themselves, be creative and innovative in agripreneur.”
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
