FDI Can’t Transform Nigerian Economy, It’s Agric – Dr. Nwanze
“DEVELOPMENT is not something that somebody introduces to a country. Development is not something that somebody does for you. Development is something that you do for yourself, so we should not expect Nigeria’s transformation from foreign investments. We must do it ourselves.”
Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, former President International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), told a gathering of scientists, researchers and business community, yesterday, on the occasion of International Conference and Expo on Research and Innovations in Agriculture (iceria) organised by AgroTimes Limited, in Lagos.
Agriculture Transformation
Dr, Nwanze, who was the guest speaker, said that for Nigeria’s agricultural sector to be like that of Israel, the Netherland and else countries, that have been successful, the government must among other things, ensure sustainable financing of all sectors of society that are involved in agriculture research and development.
He also called for a tripod partnership among government, research institutions and industries; that agro industries should be located in rural areas where they can add value very easily than where it is today.
Another commenter at the event, Seye Oyeleye, Director –General, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, also called on the government to make agriculture attractive, especially to the youth.
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“Government should make agriculture attractive to young men and women, for them to see agriculture as an economic activity, as a money making business like Aliko Dangote does.
Agric is no longer hoe and cutlass
“People still think of agriculture as hoe and cutlass; we all know it has nothing to do with hoe and cutlass anymore. That is why we are talking about research and innovation in agriculture. Israel, for example, grows food that it sends to the world from a place that is desert 70 years ago; and Holland, now called The Netherland, a tiny country, sitting on water, is the largest exporter of flour in the world. They are able to do that due to research and innovation in farming technology but here at home, we are talkers.
Occasion Chairman, Taiwo Obe, Founder Journalism Clinic, noted that Innovation comes out of what is impossible.
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He assured the conference delegates, “We must be able to put into action whatever we hear from the guest speaker and the panelists, for dissemination by the media and for government to implement.
Earlier, in an address of welcome, Baro Thomas, Editor-in-Chief, AgroTimes, said that the conference was organised as part of the organization’s own way of contributing to the reportage of the sector, and to showcase innovations in the agric sector.