Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Sept 23, 2013 23:23:18 GMT 1
Dr. Godwin Oyedele Oyediji is a former chairman, Agriculture, Non-oil Export Trade Group, Lagos Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (LACCIMA). He speaks on the just concluded 19th Nigeria Economic Summit (NES), the need for government to put measures in place to revamp agriculture for large scale production, the recent loan granted Nigeria by the World Bank to boost the sector for greater productivity and the state of the economy in the third quarter of 2013.
You are a stakeholder in the agric sector. What are the economic benefits of the just concluded 19th Nigeria Economic Summit (NES)?
The Summit provided a good platform for experts to brainstorm on measures that must be put in place to diversify the economy into agriculture, manufacturing and non-oil export sectors. Resources in the non-oil sector, particularly agriculture, if adequately harnessed, would boost economic growth now and long-term development.
The Summit tackled important issues like human capital development, trade and investments in the real sector to enhance optimum growth, which are quite imperative for the economic transformation agenda of the Federal Government. Also, the Summit paved the way for local and foreign investors to see Nigeria as a good investments hub within the West African sub-region.
Most discussants at the Summit focused on transformation of agriculture. What step do you advise government to take in stimulating development in this sector?
Agriculture is a very important sector because it allows sustainable growth of the economy if adequately funded. Developing the sector is a good initiative, as such would enable government to diversify the economy to discontinue this economic policy or budgetary system that centers on revenue from crude oil, which we do no have control over the price and demand from the international market.
Therefore, in developing the sector, government must be pragmatic about implementing policies mapped out to enhance long-term economic benefits. For instance, the sector has the capacity to create not only jobs for the citizens in various locations across the country, but raw materials for the industries and sufficient food for the citizens. Also, before the discovery of crude oil, agriculture was our major source of income and our economy experienced relative full employment and stability. This shows that agriculture is a sector that deserves needed attention to drive the nation's economy.
Source: allafrica.com/stories/201309230699.html
You are a stakeholder in the agric sector. What are the economic benefits of the just concluded 19th Nigeria Economic Summit (NES)?
The Summit provided a good platform for experts to brainstorm on measures that must be put in place to diversify the economy into agriculture, manufacturing and non-oil export sectors. Resources in the non-oil sector, particularly agriculture, if adequately harnessed, would boost economic growth now and long-term development.
The Summit tackled important issues like human capital development, trade and investments in the real sector to enhance optimum growth, which are quite imperative for the economic transformation agenda of the Federal Government. Also, the Summit paved the way for local and foreign investors to see Nigeria as a good investments hub within the West African sub-region.
Most discussants at the Summit focused on transformation of agriculture. What step do you advise government to take in stimulating development in this sector?
Agriculture is a very important sector because it allows sustainable growth of the economy if adequately funded. Developing the sector is a good initiative, as such would enable government to diversify the economy to discontinue this economic policy or budgetary system that centers on revenue from crude oil, which we do no have control over the price and demand from the international market.
Therefore, in developing the sector, government must be pragmatic about implementing policies mapped out to enhance long-term economic benefits. For instance, the sector has the capacity to create not only jobs for the citizens in various locations across the country, but raw materials for the industries and sufficient food for the citizens. Also, before the discovery of crude oil, agriculture was our major source of income and our economy experienced relative full employment and stability. This shows that agriculture is a sector that deserves needed attention to drive the nation's economy.
Source: allafrica.com/stories/201309230699.html
