Future of Nigeria’s agriculture depends on innovation, research, says Gov Uzodimma

The future of Nigeria’s agriculture sector depends on its willingness to sustain innovation, research and push for relevant possibilities.

The Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who stated this while delivering the 12th Convocation Lecture of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, titled: “Agriculture and National Development In a Diversified Economy: A Vision Of Renewed Hope Through Town And Gown Entrepreneurial Partnership,” said it is only the country that achieves success in agriculture that would most likely fast-track its national development.

In the lecture read on his behalf by the Imo State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Peter Nwachukwu, Uzodimma endorsed, as appropriate, the need to discuss agriculture and national development at a university of Agriculture like MOUAU.

He said the lecture topic provided enablement to interrogate how far and how well the university has kept faith with its mandate as a dedicated and purpose-built university of Agriculture.

He said that Nigeria, with a geographical landmass of 923.768 kilometers and ranked the largest nation in Africa for agricultural activities, has become necessary to encourage Nigeria’s agricultural sector through sufficient budgetary allocations and efficient utilisation of allocated resources to guarantee poverty reduction, sustainable livelihood and enhanced food security.

While noting that agriculture still contributes to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, he said deliberate effort is needed to ensure that it contributes more than it currently does.

According to the Governor, agriculture can and should be a key part of diversifying the economy and achievable through well articulated and carefully implemented policies that would include short, medium and long-term targets, unlike previous half-hearted attempts.

Listing some challenges, which he said are beyond control, as climate change, conflicts and insecurity that make it difficult and dangerous for farmers to even work in their lands, Uzodimma said as gloomy as this scenario is, Nigerians should not be daunted.