Femi Makinde, Osogbo
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi,
has asked the Federal Government to review its policies on agriculture
in order to reverse agricultural produce waste and ensure food security
in the country.
Oba Ogunwusi said this in a speech made
available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Sunday by the Director of
Public Affairs of the Ooni’s Palace, Mr. Moses Olafare.
The monarch said he, in collaboration
with the Bank of Industry and Hephzibah Network, had scheduled a summit
starting for October 6, where 150 young farmers would be trained in
agro-processing.
The monarch stated that training farmers
in how to process their produce would generate more money and ensure
that crops, which were usually lost to lack of preservation, were
abundantly available.
He noted that most farmers in the
country stopped at the primary stage of food production, adding that
this was why they lost opportunities of making more money from their
produce.
The monarch said, “Processing of raw
materials will most probably improve food security as well as the
reputation of Nigeria’s agriculture.
“However, in order for this to happen,
it is important to improve on the agricultural policy of the country. It
is also vital to attract adequate budgeting, not only in form of
donations, but also regular business investments.
“This can be done through a proper
investment policy of government. Agro-processing also requires extensive
training of farmers, especially the young ones. The productive use of
technologies by the youths at the grassroots should be maximally
encouraged as this will increase the speed and quality of the process.”
He stated that the summit would focus on
cassava processing, maize processing, aquaculture and fish processing
among others and also to train farmers in exportation and the procedure
for NAFDAC registration.
The Head of Osun Bureau of the BoI, Mr.
Emmanuel Ojowuro, said the bank would not only sponsor the summit but
would also offer loans to participants who had bankable agricultural
ideas.
He explained that the partnership was
not only to provide fund but to also support skill development among
youths in agriculture.
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