Agric Experts demand for conditioning centres

Agricultural experts in Nigeria have posited that the establishment of private driven conditioning centres cum effective data for production, processing and marketing at a glance saying these are the panacea to food security challenges in the country..

They aired their views at the 25th Nigeria Economic Summit held in Abuja with a suggestion that government should concentrate on regulations and policies creation that would more enhance the sector for economic commercialization while these centres should be allowed to be private driven.

Speaking at the occasion, the Managing Director Crest Agro, Oyetunde Solaja, said that for agriculture to have the expected growth in Nigeria, there must be a data processing centre where necessary information could be easily obtained about farmers, markets and available produce with efficient linkages between stakeholders.

Solaja disclosed that "First, there has to be enough data to know at least what and what can we produce and who are the off takers”, adding  that regulation should be complied by, to ensure that farmers were not cheated in the use of basic amenities in  the conditioning centers.

 While positing for the establishment of these centres, he said:"Once you have these conditioning centres, It is going to encourage even investors into the country .One of the biggest challenges with investors is how do we solve the challenge of linking with the right people and knowledge of his linking partners. Also, the government should hand-off the conditioning centres, but retain control on the quality of the products to ensure standards and policy creation”.

He continued: "With conditioning centers, farmers do not need to worry their heads when the product is out. The centres serve as warehouses and have good storage capacity for easily perishable goods as the centre will preserve produce for farmers and link them to the available market. The linkages must be there so that the farmer does not look for market for his produce. This is the only way to open up the rural economy, not necessarily   from the national grid but through off-grid solutions."

Also speaking at the forum, Leap Africa’s representative, Ndidi Onwuneli urged that private sector must champion the course of genuine data availability of farmers and other stakeholders adding that "There is tremendous potential for the private sector to take a lead, and the civil society to take a lead. We don't need to wait for the government to do everything’’