The Guardian to host its maiden agribusiness forum

Guardian Conferences, a strategic business division and an adjacent company of The Guardian Newspaper organises its first Agribusiness Forum with the theme – Food Security- Exploring Nigeria’s Agro-food Industry Potentials and Export Competitiveness as part of its Economic Forum Series.

In partnership with Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), the Agribusiness forum stems from the current Nigerian economic realities where virtually all macroeconomic and fiscal indices are trending negative – low oil prices, naira depreciation by almost 25 per cent, spiraling inflation, capital market bearish performances, exchange rates devaluation and the dwindling foreign reserves, and financial sector performance.

All of this has led to a considerable low GDP growth and several key sectors including oil & gas, manufacturing and government are already in recession, while others are experiencing sharp slowdowns.

After years of neglect, African governments, business leaders, investors and other partners are now paying more attention to the agricultural sector. Agriculture and agribusiness are projected to be a $1 trillion industry in sub-Sahara Africa by 2030. Agribusiness will play a significant role in jump-starting Nigeria’s economic diversification and competitiveness through the provision of jobs, revenue and foreign exchange incomes. However, this vital sector still lacks the support it deserves.

Expected at the forum are government officials, Policy makers, agribusiness SMEs, smallholder farmer groups, commercial banks, microfinance banks,dDevelopment banks, private equity investors and venture capitalists, farmer cooperative societies, agro-allied industries, retailers, NGOs, academics, researchers, donor agencies, corporate bodies and individuals.