The United States has advised the Federal Government to invest more in agriculture, to address the issue of food crisis and resultant hunger ravaging the country.
This call was made by the Charge d’Affaires in Nigeria, David Greene, said this while speaking at Ipao-Ekiti, in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, during a visit by the US embassy to the 15,000 hectares Agbeyewa Farms, a private initiative of Cavista Holdings.
Greene noted that if the country is sincere in its efforts to bolster food security and fast-rack socio-economic prosperity, governments at all levels and Nigerians must leverage the existing productive potential abound in the agricultural sector.
According to him, Nigeria was abundantly blessed with agricultural potential to foster economic growth and development, improve food security and create job opportunities, but it was not fully utilized.
The US diplomat further emphasised that Nigeria with an abundance of arable land, fertile soil and favourable weather has all it takes to maximise the potential in agriculture, not only to feed its citizens but also to export for income generation.
Greene however called on the Federal Government to take a cue from the Agbeyewa Farms, which has tapped into the economic potential of large-scale agriculture to create value, boost food security, create jobs as well and drive economic growth and development.
“We are aware of the food security challenge and the post-harvest losses in Nigeria.
“With investments and leadership like this, I think the lives of Nigerians can be changed for the better.
“We know that agriculture in Nigeria has lots of incredible potential. The US will do a lot in the sector of course, but I can’t say precisely what we may do in future. We have investments at Ikun Diary Farms and cocoa production in Ekiti and the rest.
“USAID sees the future and is offering a lot across the board to the Nigerian producer, collaborating with donors, including the World Bank and others. With the kind of economic innovation we see here, we need to work together with the people of Nigeria to benefit the people. These kinds of innovations we see here are the kind of things we need to work together and see more to benefit Nigerians, increase the export yield as well as revolutionise the agricultural sector,” Greener said.
Responding, the Chairman of Cavista Holdings, Mr John Olajide, explained that the vision behind the multimillion naira investment in agribusiness was to ensure adequate supply of food, improve nutrition, create jobs and foster community development.
