Former president, General Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the federal government to tackle poverty by using wealth creating strategies like agribusiness.
The former president who gave the charge at the launch of a book titled: Agribusiness for Africa’s prosperity, decried the collapse of the nation’s industrial sector, noting that “meaningful partnerships that would accelerate agricultural and industrial growth is needed in the country.”
Against several efforts to boost agriculture across the country, the former president who is a farmer explained the critical role, small-scale farmers will play in addressing the nation’s low productivity. “Unless small scale farmers are introduced into the agribusiness strategy, problems of poverty and low agricultural productivity would continue in the country” he said
Formally launching the book, Chief Obasanjo described the publication as ‘timely’. The introduction of the agribusiness strategy according to him “would boost Nigeria’s development in today’s emerging markets.”
The book, written by international experts from agribusiness practitioners to academicians, details seven key drivers of sustainable agricultural growth.
Top government officials, diplomats and representatives of governments across Africa converged in Abuja to witness the launch of the book agribusiness.
The director of Agribusiness unit with the United Nations Industrial Development, Mr Phillip Scholtes noted “infrastructure and energy as major inhibiting factors in Nigeria.”
President of African business roundtable, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and other guest at book launch acknowledged that agribusiness can best be practised by “engaging the youths.”
It was agreed that agribusiness as a strategy can guarantee a 70 percent boost in food production by 2050, but the reality of this, is partnership with the private sector to ensure a well-diversified economy.
