FIIRO Advocates Re-orientation on Agricultural Sector
Stories by Oluchi Chibuzor
The Acting Director-General (DG) of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), Dr. Chima Igwe, has advocated for a re-orientation campaign on the need for Nigerians to embrace agricultural activities.
The DG stated this in a keynote speech he delivered at an Annual Agricultural Summit and Exhibition event held in Lagos, recently, organised by the National Agricultural Association of Journalist (NAAJ).
He said a strong and efficient agricultural sector would enable the country feed its growing population, generate employment, earn foreign exchange and provide raw materials for industries, as agriculture has a multiplier effect on any nation’s socio-economic and industrial fabric because of the multi-functional nature of agriculture.
He noted that the Nigerian economy, like in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, has a nutrition challenge, occasioned by insecurity, the ever-increasing population and dwindling agricultural productivity.
“In order to improve agricultural production and its contribution to the national economic development, it is essential to evaluate the role agricultural has played so far in our national economic development, the challenges and investment gap and evolve modern methods to boost agricultural production through information.
“Modern agricultural techniques seek to minimize human involvement, increase crop yield, and improve animal health, quality and consumer safety which plays major roles in how crops and animal are raised,” he said.
The DG, highlighted several ways that information could help bridge investment gap in the Agriculture sector.
“Transform Nigeria’s agriculture into large scale productive enterprise and thus enhances farmers’ earning power and sustainable livelihoods, stimulate access to information and human development in the rural areas, transform rural communities into more literate, knowledgeable and economic empowered society and transform Nigeria agriculture into agribusiness via increased investment.”