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Foreigners are currently taking over Nigeria’s agricultural sector as a result of the excessively high interest rates being demanded from indigenous agriculturists by Deposit Money Banks, the Federal Government has said.   Senator Heineken Lokpobiri Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development  Speaking on the sidelines of a seminar organised in Abuja by the Danish Embassy in Nigeria on value development in the country’s food and agriculture sector, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said the major challenge inhibiting the desired development of the country’s agricultural sector was poor access to finance. Lokpobiri stated, “The major challenge bedevilling this industry is access to finance. Agricultural financing in Nigeria is too costly; for even at nine per cent you can’t find it. They will ask you for all forms of collateral, the CBN will say bring your father’s house, bring this, bring that. ...

Worried by the abysmal level of food safety in the country which is deteriorating at a frightening rate, the Federal Government yesterday unveiled a programme tagged Agricultural Sector Food Security and Nutrition Strategy as part of a concerted effort to drastically reduce malnutrition and enhance food insecurity in the country.   Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development While launching the strategy, which will be implemented over a decade, Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, who was represented by Prof. Abubakar Hafiz, Deputy Governor of Kano State, said the document would serve as a guide towards ensuring the safety of food throughout the various stages of production, preparation and storage. Ogbeh said the strategy would help the country to tackle malnutrition challenges, adding that “With this strategy, agriculture and food systems in Nigeria are being deliberately harnessed to boost nutrition. “It is expected...