From: Gyang Here, Jos
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the Federal Government has approved N750 billion to tackle food scarcity in the country.
Osinbajo stated this, on Monday, during the inauguration of Senior Executive Course SEC 39 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos.
According to him, “The country has over 84 million hectares of arable land, but only 40 percent is cultivated with a population of about 180 million people, it internal market is big enough to support an optimum agricultural production and at the same time provide more work to the citizens.”
The Acting President, who was represented by the Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, urged Nigerians to take advantage of agricultural opportunity open by the federal government to be self reliance.
Prof Osinbajo said this year’s theme, “Science, technology and innovation for the development of agriculture and agro allied industries in Nigeria,” has been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari because of his belief that agricultural sector provides enormous potentials for quick industrialisation in Nigeria.
He continued, “Nigeria remains as agrarian economy, with over 70 percent of the informal sector jobs created from this sector, has other multiplier effects that could drive rapid economic recovery and growth in Nigeria in the shortest possible time.”
He said the APC administration is battle ready to tackle food security in the country, adding that N750 Billion naira agricultural intervention fund has been approved to boost the agricultural sector.
According to him, when science, technology and innovation became the key drivers of agricultural sector, food security will not only guarantee sufficiency for our teeming population, but also industrial development which would enhance employment opportunities for youths and it will take substantial number of youths out of poverty.
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