Nigeria Agricultural Revolution” The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the present administration’s agricultural revolution is not a mere propaganda but a reality, with enough evidence to back it up.

The Minister stated this at a banquet held in his honour in Birnin Kebbi by the Kebbi State Government on Sunday night.

The Minister, who was in Kebbi State with over 30 journalists on a tour of rice farms and other agricultural activities, said the fact that Nigeria has been able to cut down on rice importation from 644,000 metric tonnes to about 22,000 metric tonnes within two years
is a clear demonstration that the agricultural revolution is working.

“We brought the media here today to let the world know that when we talk about agricultural revolution, it’s not about propaganda, it’s about reality, it’s about saying that Mr. President’s vision that agriculture is the only way out is absolutely correct.

“The fact that the state today has grown from a meagre 2.5 metric tonnes of rice per hectare to as much as 10 or 11 metric tonnes from
one hectare, I think it speaks louder than any propaganda you can think of,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed challenged the media to investigate and understand how the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of the Federal Government is actually supporting farmers to increase their yields.

He said from the support of about N200,000 given to farmers per hectare of rice in form of inputs, improved seedling, water-pumps and
extension services, they have been able to realise between N800,000 and N1.2 million as return on investment.

“This is not just about revolution, it’s about poverty reduction, it’s about inclusiveness in governance,” the Minister said.

Alhaji Mohammed said with less than N100 billion spent on the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme across the country so far, Nigeria is on the
verge of exiting rice importation, with the establishment of more rice mills in the country and the closure of 7 rice mills in Thailand.

“We need to invest more in agriculture because the returns are very fast and are appreciable not just in terms of of food sufficiency but also in terms of job creation and poverty reduction,” he said.

In his remarks, the Kebbi State Governor, Senator Atiku Bagudu, said the state is succeeding in the agricultural revolution because it has keyed into the vision of President Buhari.

“What we are celebrating in Kebbi is as a result of the campaign promises of the All Progressives Congress to provide security, to provide economic opportunities for all, to fight corruption and all of these have been achieved quite significantly in Kebbi State, with the support and leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and his very able and capable Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo,” he said.

The Governor recalled that the President launched the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme in Kebbi State and that, so far, N54 billion has been disbursed to 270,000 farmers in 31 states across the country.

He said the investment has triggered an unprecedented growth in agriculture, which is partly responsible for the country’s exit from
recession.

Commissioners of key ministries in the state later took turns to brief the Minister on their achievements.

Agriculture: Group Tasks Nigerians To See Economic Potential

Nigerians have been advised to see agriculture as a business and an avenue in realising the country’s full economic potential and not a vocation for the poor as erroneously perceived by the majority.

Mr Kofo Adegoke, President, Olaoluwaseni Joshua Adegoke Foundation (Oja-F), an NGO, gave this advice on Monday at the inauguration of the foundation in Abuja.

This has hindered the country from realising its full economic potential, Mr Kofo Adegoke

According to him, Nigerians need to explore agriculture as a business and not just a way of life to maximize the potential in the sector.

“People should not just see agriculture as a way of life, or just a government programme, but a business that can generate great income and employment opportunities.

“The scourge of poverty in our land is unacceptable knowing full well that we can leverage on agriculture to create wealth,” he said.

According to him, while many gains have been made in reducing global poverty, nearly 50 percent of the people in the world still live below the poverty level.

“This is not a pretty picture at all and there is a clear disconnect between the nature of growth and the swelling number of poor people and this can only be balanced when we are engaged in agriculture,” he said.

Adegoke added that for Africans and Nigerians to succeed in lifting millions of people out of poverty and create a model of shared prosperity, the focus should be on transforming rural economies.

He said that this could be done by propagating the gospel of agricultural business “Agribiz”.

According to him, this is because every single farmer is a private sector person that only needs access to technology, training, finance, land, information, market and infrastructure.

Adegoke said this was, however, achievable through the creation of agricultural entrepreneurial skills development programmes.

He added that the OJA foundation was set to partner with both Federal and State governments, national and international agencies, and NGOs to improve agriculture in Nigeria.

The Guest Speaker, Mr Kola Adegoke reiterated that Agriculture was not for the downtrodden but for intellectuals because it took knowledge to explore the gains of agriculture.

He commended the Former Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina for educating youths and Nigerians on the many benefits of agriculture as the way forward.

“Now we see graduates, master degree holders getting into the agriculture sector and making great gains.

We also see them serving as employers of labour as well as reducing poverty at the grassroots,” Adegoke said.

He said that the Foundation seeks to promote human well-being through strategic interventions in the areas of healthcare services and agricultural entrepreneurial skills development in rural communities.