The Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Manzo Maigari, has underscored the need for sustainable and innovative agricultural practices by farmers across the country, noting that recourse to archaic farm practices is the key reason why Nigeria’s agricultural production has fallen well below global standards.


The commissioner, who spoke at the “Business of Agriculture Conference” organized by Vicampro (a Potato company) in Lagos, added that farmers need to ensure consistency in their production and identified profitability as the only way to sustain agriculture in Nigeria.

Vice President, Olam Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ade Adefeko, while speaking at the conference, charged the media to be involved in monitoring and evaluation of policies enacted by the government and the impacts of projects executed. He described this as a way of making the government accountable to the populace.

Mr. Michael Agbogo, Co-Founder and CEO of Vicampro, in his welcome address, said that apart from trying to meet Nigeria’s potato demand, they have plans for small-holder farmers with the Out-grower Farmers’ Program while targeting the creation of 30,000 new jobs.
 
Agbogo identified the bottlenecks in the industry as: access to finance, storage facilities, Government’s support, security, technology and irrigation systems amongst others. He however noted that if addressed, the sector would be the major source of revenue to the country.

Speaking on youth in agriculture, an Agric-Entrepreneur, Innocent Mokidi said Nigerian youths are not lazy but do not have access to opportunities like their counterparts in other countries. He stressed the need for the discipline of agriculture and implored young people to fully participate in it.