NAN-AE-16
Stakeholders
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Oct. 6, 2016(NAN) Agricultural stakeholders in the south- western region of Nigeria on Thursday met in Ibadan to chart a new course for regional growth and survival through agriculture.
They met at the South-West Agricultural Summit 2016″ facilitated by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and Agro-Nigeria, a leading Agricultural Organisation.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the event with the theme: “Achieving an Agro-Powered Regional Economy” was to review and reflect on various efforts and strategies to achieve optimal result in the sector.
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state said that the event was timely and auspicious, saying there was need for stakeholders to come together to discuss the matter of regional survival and growth.
Ajimobi, who was represented by Mr Abimbola Adekanmbi, the State Commissioner for Budget and Finance, acknowledged that such summit would evolve a broad regional integration agenda.
He stated that it would advance the promotion and exploitation of the agricultural potentials of the Yoruba region within the context of the Nigeria federation.
“Now is the time to go back and reconnect with the glorious heritage. This is the first region-based dialogue on agricultural development in Nigeria.
“Now is the time to let go for our seeming dependence of the unsustainable path of oil and gas, two commodities with expiry date,” Ajimobi said.
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State said that it was obvious that the era of free petrol dollars had gone, saying the summit would afford states in the region the opportunity to go back to basis.
Aregbesola, who was represented by Dr Charles Akinola, the Director General, Office of Economic Development and Partnership, described the summit as a welcome development.
He said that the region was now ready to face reality that agriculture was the only way out of the present economic recession in the country.
“The summit is a good one because we are going back to the root.
“The era of a $100 or $120 per barrel is gone. We need to diversify our economy and agriculture is a natural space that we should be operating.
“Agriculture has provided us food and now we need to operate like we used to do 50 years back,” Aregbesola said.
He expressed hope that the summit would afford the states opportunity to reflect and review their individual agricultural policies.
According to him, this forum will allow for knowledge sharing on
policies that can be adopted at the regional level to foster synergy and additional agricultural value chain for the individual state.
Mr Dipo Famakinwa, the Director-General, DAWN Commission, lamented that several actions and policies made by the states, farmers, businessmen, entrepreneurs were not well connected nor integrated in relations to regional economy.
Famakinwa said the summit was imperative to allow for exchange of ideas and creation of conducive environment for diversification of economy through agriculture.
“So it is important for us to do this, so that we can couple an atmosphere together that will create and inspire the abilities and actions of everybody and ensure that the business of agric begins to make sense in the south west.
“Agric entreprenuers must begin to do what they are suppose to do in terms of the diversification of the economy of the region and for government to also take optimal advantage of the sector.
“This will not be for revenue generation only but also for employment and wealth creation, likewise social security,” he said.
Mr Richard-Mark Mbaram, the Chief Executive Officer, AgroNigeria explained that the purpose of the event was to make sure private sector carried the public sector hand-in-hand in exploring the prospects in agriculture for regional benefit.
“We are not limiting it to the south-west but the truth is that the region has always been at the fore-front of development in many aspects, which was not so anymore.
“The potentials are still there. So, we are partnering DAWN to revive the spirit as that is the only way forward for the region and even the country, if we must get out of the present economic situation.
“We have gathered experts and stakeholders in agric business, brainstormed and discuss agriculture.
“We are hoping to start with a think tank to identify key issues in terms of agricultural policies and implementation,” Mbaram said. (NAN)
TAA/ORO/AFA
Edited by Razak Owolabi/Felix Ajide
==========================