Stakeholders task Nigerians on benefits of agro-Processing

Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have emphasised the need for the country to be actively involved in agro-processing activities to revive the ailing economy and save it from total collapse.

This was made known at an agricultural stakeholders and role modeling event organised by Mrs. Folake Oyewale, a staff of Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), and beneficiary of the African Women in Agricultural and Development of the African (AWARD) programme.

At the event, held at the premises of the Animal Care Consult, Ogere, Ogun State the organiser, Oyewale, defined agro-processing as the subset of the manufacturing industry that processes raw materials and intermediate products derived from the agricultural sector.

She however, lamented that, Nigeria like other developing countries has done very little to harness the potentials to be gained by adding value to their “Straight from the farm” agricultural products.

Oyewale added that, considering the fact that, Nigeria is blessed with a vast fauna and flora, agro-processing can have a great impact in accelerating the country’s industrialisation, thus boosting her economy.

In her own speech titled “Agro-processing For Accelerated Industrialisation: Nigeria’s Future”, the Director-General of FIIRO, Dr. (Mrs.) Elemo, noted that agro-processing and agro-allied industries is one of the industry groups that Nigeria has a comparative advantage in, as it strives to build up its industrial capacity.

“This industry group is one of our lowest hanging fruits and we have not yet fully explored its potential for propelling Nigeria towards industrialisation,” She said.