NAN-AE-1
Export
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, Dec. 22, 2016 (NAN) Dr Babajide Adelekan , the Provost, Federal College of Agriculture (FCA), Ibadan, has advised the Federal Government and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector, to aim at meeting consumption needs of the people before exporting agricultural products.
Adelekan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Thursday that exporting the nation’s agriculture products without meeting the consumption needs of the citizens is counterproductive.
He said that the needs of the people for food and agric raw materials for industries should be met before agric. products are exported to other countries.
“When we export products we get more foreign exchange; we need to seek ways by which we can export more, but there should be a balance between the consumption needs of the populace and export,’’ he said.
Adelekan said that the drive to export products to earn foreign exchange would be more meaningful if local demands for food were satisfied.
He said: “the best and first thing the government needs to do is to satisfy local consumption needs of its citizens.
“When the people are satisfied, the excess can be exported.
“If that is not done first, there is no point exporting because we may find ourselves trying to import again to satisfy local consumption needs that should have been done earlier.”
The provost said that for Nigeria to achieve food sufficiency, investment in agriculture had to be intensified.
“Agriculture needs money by way of investment before it can yield profit; if we do not invest adequately in the sector, we may not reap abundantly.
“The government and private sector need to invest in agricultural education and capital mobilisation,” he said.
Adelekan urged stakeholders in the sector to pay more attention to mechanised farming to boost food production and meet the consumption needs of the people.
“We need money to purchase modern inputs, chemicals, fertilizers and even to train people on modern agriculture techniques.
“We need to have well equipped agro-service centres in local government areas where farmers can borrow and use modern agric implements, he said.
Adelekan said that production of food and raw materials should not be the sole responsibility of the government.
He urged wealthy individuals, organizations and the private sector to join hands with the government to develop agriculture. (NAN)
CC/ECN/AEA
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Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Archibong Asuquo