Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized the critical role of innovation in agriculture for human survival and development in Nigeria.
Obasanjo commented while delivering his address at the AgriConnect Summit held in Lagos recently as the chairman of the event.
The theme of the event was ”Bridging the Divide: Cultivating Collaboration and Innovation for a Sustainable Agricultural Future.”
“Innovation is very important. Land is important. But, without money, your land is useless. You cannot do agricultural business without money and innovation,” Obasanjo stated.
He praised research institutes in Africa and globally, advocating for mentorship programs to encourage young farmers.
He recounted how he persuaded one of his sons, a PhD graduate from the University of Cambridge, to take up farming.
Organised in collaboration with Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Limited, the AgriConnect Summit aims to foster a unified approach to agricultural development.
The summit brought together leaders from technology, finance, government, developmental organizations, and agriculture to devise actionable strategies to enhance food security in Nigeria.
Meka Nwabuko, managing director of Prime Agro Seeds Limited, emphasized the role of technology in transforming agriculture and the importance of collaboration.
He pointed out that smallholder farmers, who are central to food production, face numerous challenges that can be effectively addressed through cluster farming and cooperatives.
Nwabuko reiterated the advantages of cluster farming, stating that:
”support in terms of inputs, finance, technology, knowledge, and market access can be more effectively deployed and managed within cluster models compared to individual farmers.”
He also reiterated the importance of enabling government policies, citing the Plant Variety Protection Act as a significant legal framework that supports the intellectual property of foreign investors and accelerates agricultural progress.
Recall that Abubakar Kyari, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Security, recently expressed concerns about food shortages in the country and discussed the possibility of closing borders to address the issue.
During an interaction with the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions, Kyari highlighted the challenges faced by Nigeria, including rising inflation, food prices, and a foreign exchange crisis.
Kyari also mentioned the undocumented amount of food exports to neighbouring countries, driven by strengthening the CFA currency against the Naira.
