Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) has expressed the need for farmers to get valuesfor their produce.
At a two-day regional agribusiness sensitisation for farmers in the southwest, supported by Innovation Lab for Policy Leadership in Agriculture and Food Security (PiLAF) in collaboration with DAWN Commission, the group’s president, Arc. Kabir Ibrahim said it was intended to sensitise the smallholder farmers as to the possibilities in agribusiness on the need to standardise their products for marketability.
The programme which took place in Ibadan attracted stakeholders in agriculture and business sectors.
The stakeholders included members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), officers of the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, farmers and others.
Ibrahim said: “This is the continuation of the programme that the NABG has been pursuing over several months. We have had workshops in various places and we intend to do a lot more in three selected geo-political zones.
“We intend to sensitise the smallholder producers or smallholder farmers as to the possibilities in agribusiness by sensitising them to the need to standardise their products for marketability, to also do climate-smart agriculture, to use good agricultural practices in all their production to be able to export whatever they produce and making the whole country quite comfortable.
“It is important for them to recognise all these possibilities. It is incumbent on us to know that there is a policy guideline on seeds, fertilisers and soil that we need to adhere to in order to make what we do successful.
“I urge you to produce by asking questions and getting essential services so that whatever we produce will have the value added that is necessary for marketability.
“The NABG is concerned with their products. It is only now that the farmers are getting values for what they produce. If you go outside, people are crying over food prices hike but farmers are naturally happy that they are getting the best from their hard work.
“I urge you to guard this jealously and produce wholesome food for Nigeria so that our children will be healthy and we will be able to add value to nation-building”
The head of Economic Development and Research of DAWN Commission, Dr Adesoji Farayibi, who represented the director-general, Dr Seye Oyeleye said agriculture remains the backbone of “Our economy and the policies we put in place today will determine the future of the vital sector.”
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