By Idris Olukoya, LAGOS
An agriculture expert, Mr Titilayo Adebanjo, has urged the federal and state governments to significantly increase annual budgets for agriculture to boost food production.
Adebanjo, Managing Director, Agrorebirth Company, made the appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Epe.
He said that increased budgets for the agricultural sector would boost food production and reduce economic hardship.
Adebanjo added that governments should encourage farmers to sustain interest in farming and encourage more Nigerians to go into farming.
“Farmers need to be supported with inputs, easy access to loans and land preparations, among others.
“The hardship being encountered by farmers is not encouraging, as some of them are quitting the venture which adversely affects food supply.
“Most farmers have invested heavily on agriculture without realising profits, and they find it difficult to reinvest due to financial constraints.
“Our governments are doing their best but need to invest more in the agricultural sector.
“We have to practicalise the cliché of ‘no farmer, no nation’ which translates to no food,” he said.
He urged governments to motivate the youth to embrace farming.
He said that equipping young farmers with modern farming tools and techniques would encourage them.
“The old farming methods are still being applied in many areas, and this discourages the youth.
“Governments should support farmers with modern equipment to make the venture attractive and less stressful.
“They should ensure that farmers access inputs – fertilisers, agrochemicals and seedlings, among others – to enhance food production,” he said.
Adebanjo said that a well-developed agricultural sector would save any nation from hunger and starvation.
“Governments should invest heavily in the agricultural sector and attract more local and foreign investors to boost food supply, ” he said. (NAN)
