Increase your investments in agriculture, Gov Bagudu tells govts

Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State has urged governments at federal, state and local levels to increase their investments in agricultural production in order for the country to attain self-sufficiency in food production.
 
Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State
Bagudu who gave the advise during the Farmers Interactive Forum and Exhibition organised by Daily Trust in collaboration with the Kebbi State Ministry for Agriculture in Birnin Kebbi on Monday, noted that farmers in China, America and Britain, among others, enjoy massive subsidies to become competitive globally.

According to him, “Nigeria has the largest absorptive capacity in agricultural investment. The European Union protects its markets by giving 90 billion euros to the farmers. Nigerians can begin to imagine if we put more money into agriculture than we put in subsidising petroleum.”

The governor added that over N200 billion was wasted on petroleum subsidy, noting that if such amount was invested in agriculture it would go a long way to solve the nation’s food sufficiency challenge.

“What has gone to agriculture from the Anchor Borrowers is less than N100 billion. If we had put N1 trillion into agriculture we would have realised our food potential capability,” he said.

Bagudu further stated that the country, in the last two years, witnessed development in the agriculture sector because of President Muhammadu Buhari’s initiative in the production of rice and other crops.


“This is why Kebbi and Lagos partnered in rice production. Lake Rice is now a household name and the evidence of the agricultural transformation started by President Buhari.” he said. 

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