The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Nanono, has said that mechanized farming will boost the nation’s agricultural production capacity and create more jobs for Nigerian youths if explored.
The Minister made this remark during a town hall meeting with the All Farmers Associations of Nigeria (AFAN) and other relevant stakeholders in Kano over weekend.
He pointed out that the introduction of mechanized farming was necessary in order to shift from the traditional system of farming and embrace modern technology, enhance self-reliance and boost food production in the country
Nanono therefore appealed to Nigerians to support the present administration in its commitment to position the agricultural sector to attain economic growth and food security.
The minister said: “We need to give the Government the necessary support and cooperation to enable it achieve success in terms of food security, job creation and increased the nation’s non-oil internally generated revenue.”
Nanono charged the farmers to rise up to the challenge of meeting the expectation of government for the sector being the backbone of the nation’s economy.
This is even as he reiterated the administration’s commitment to revolutionize the agricultural system with a deliberate plan to attract investors and set up assembly plants in the country.
He clarified further: “Already, we are planning to establish service centers across the 774 local government areas across Nigeria where farmers can access improved seed and other farm inputs.
“With the setting of the service centers equipment will be sourced and assembled in Nigeria to serve the rural and urban farmers. Federal Government is attracting these companies to set up their factories in Nigeria and when they do that, it will generate more jobs”, the minister added.
According to him, the ministry will continue to support farmers like the rice millers, yam, wheat, maize, etc. to produce more to meet the nation’s demand.
In his welcome address, the chairman, Kano State Chapter, AFAN, Alhaji Ahmed Mudi, said there was need for government’s interventions to scale up small scale processors and millers towards making their work easier in all relevant commodities chains.
He urged the government to facilitate capacity building programmes for processors and extension services agents in all the states with a view to enabling them step-down the good agricultural practices (GAPs) knowledge gained from such porgrammes to smallholder farmers and staff at the various levels.
