By Samuel
The Chairman, Agricultural Colleges and Institutions Committee of the Federal House of Representatives, Alhaji Munir Babba Dan Agundi, says agriculture remains the best option for Nigeria to regenerate its economy.
Agundi, who represents Kumbotso Federal Constituency of Kano State, made the assertion on Monday during a stakeholder inception meeting of the Kano Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) at the Center for Dryland Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano.
The meeting was attended by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SSA), a partner of the KSADP, and representatives of research institutions and the private sector.
Speaking during the meeting, the chairman reiterated the importance of agriculture to Nigeria’s economic buoyancy.
He said, “While other countries are seeking what to fall back on in these times of global economic recession, we (Nigeria) have nothing to fall back on other than agriculture.
“Agriculture is our major strength, so we must pay serious attention to it – to activities such as this. The Kano Agro-Pastoral Development Project working with Sasakawa will help us to revive our economy.”
The representative explained that agriculture would not only help the country to diversify its economy but also ensure food security and poverty alleviation owing to its vast arable land and large farming population.
Agundi restated the commitment of the National Assembly to ensure that the Federal Government puts in place sound policies that would ensure sustainable agricultural and economic development.
He also lamented the problem of policy inconsistency in the country, adding that it has been a major setback to the economy.
On his part, the State Project Coordinator of KSAPD, Ibahim Garba Muhammad explained that the cooperation between both entities seeks to develop targeted crop value chains.
Muhammad, who was represented by the KSADP’s Crop Specialist, Abdullahi Raba, added that the partnership would also help to develop rural infrastructure, promote marketing enterprises and build the capacity of farmers.
“In this regard, our project will count on engagement with the private sector so as to deliver on our interventions and eventually achieve the objectives of eradicating poverty, creating more jobs and ensuring food security in Kano,” he assured.
In his remarks, the Country Director of SAA, Prof. Sani Miko, explained that the meeting was convened as part of measures to ensure that the KSADP/Sasakawa partnership started on the right footing.
“We want to ensure that we do not disappoint the smallholder farmer. We will make the farmers more functional by not only giving them technical support but also building two-way confidence and trust,” he said.
Among other things, the meeting agreed to arrange a stakeholders’ implementation planning meeting to assign specific roles and responsibilities to partners, share relevant documents for better understanding of the project and to explore ways to integrate e-extension in the project.