‘Nigeria can match US, UK in food production

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The Acting Executive Director, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, Mr. Uzo Njoku, has said full adoption of mechanised agricultural model will make Nigeria compare favourably with United Kingdom, United States and other industrialised countries in-terms of food production, processing and exports.



He added that mechanised agriculture would enhance national food security, industrialisation and employment generation. He stated that with the large arable land and agricultural potential as well as abundant human resources and good climate in the country, Nigeria could feed the world with the full adoption of mechanised agriculture.

He spoke on Thursday during a community sensitisation summit at Apaila community in Kwara State. The programme was organised by ARMTI and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.
Njoku also said more improvement in power generation and distribution as well as timely payment of electricity bill to sustain electricity supply were essential to achieving mechanised agriculture and processing of agricultural products.

“Electricity will help in agricultural development. These days of value chain development, it is not just agriculture alone, you produce, you process and you market. There should be increase in generation and distribution of electricity across the country to boost food security. That is why we are here.
“If they generate and do not distribute, mechanised agriculture as well as food processing will be inhibited. Electricity Company can only distribute when people are paying for the electricity. Be it agriculture or power, everything is about business.

“Our aim is to help the rural community appreciate light because some of the projects that may come their way may require electricity and if they do not pay, they will not have power to utilise the facilities to improve their standard of living.

“That is why we have decided to cooperate with IBEDC to come and enlighten them so that our role of improving standard of living of rural farmers will be actualised.”

He said ARMTI had spent over N10m as seed fund for seven communities in the state for the institute’s Value Alive Development Initiative.