Government urged to fund research institutes

Funding of research institutes and commercialisation of research outcomes and innovations have been identified as the needed impetus to advance the nation’s economy.

Editor of Agrobusiness Times, Jim Rex-Lawson Moses, disclosed this during a briefing on its one-day conference and expo tagged: International Conference and Expo on Research and Innovations in Agriculture (ICERIA 2019).

With Harnessing Sustainable Agricultural Innovations for Economic Development as a theme, the conference holds on Thursday, October 24, 2019, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victory Island, Lagos.

He underscored the need for robust stakeholders’ engagement and rigorous discourse to chart a new green revolution backed by research and technology.

Moses said the event was to promote the Agric industry as a solution to change the narrative of hunger, famine, starvation, and poverty largely suffered in sub-Saharan Africa, despite the huge opportunities for export, job creation, and wealth creation.

He lamented the neglect of the sector by successive governments, the private sector, and most especially, the banks in the area of funding despite the potentials in the sector capable of turning Nigeria’s economic fortunes around and even Africa into a global food powerhouse.

“We believe that for us to change the current narrative, all hands must be on deck to make agriculture a major foreign exchange earner considering the huge opportunities,” he said.

The conference has endorsements of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the National Biotechnology Management Agency (NBMA).

The conference is expected to feature former IFAD President, Dr. Kanayo Nwanze as a keynote speaker and a cross-section of seasoned stakeholders as participants.