Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the Federal
Government has approved N750 billion to tackle food scarcity in the country.
Osinbajo stated this, on Monday, during the inauguration of
Senior Executive Course SEC 39 of the National Institute for Policy and
Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos.
According to him, “The country has over 84 million hectares
of arable land, but only 40 percent is cultivated with a population of about
180 million people, it internal market is big enough to support an optimum
agricultural production and at the same time provide more work to the
citizens.”
The Acting President, who was represented by the Deputy
Governor of Plateau State, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, urged Nigerians to take
advantage of agricultural opportunity open by the federal government to be self
reliance.
Prof Osinbajo said this year’s theme, “Science, technology
and innovation for the development of agriculture and agro allied industries in
Nigeria,” has been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari because of his belief
that agricultural sector provides enormous potentials for quick industrialisation
in Nigeria.
He continued, “Nigeria remains as agrarian economy, with
over 70 percent of the informal sector jobs created from this sector, has other
multiplier effects that could drive rapid economic recovery and growth in
Nigeria in the shortest possible time.”
He said the APC administration is battle ready to tackle
food security in the country, adding that N750 Billion naira agricultural
intervention fund has been approved to boost the agricultural sector.
According to him, when science, technology and innovation
became the key drivers of agricultural sector, food security will not only
guarantee sufficiency for our teeming population, but also industrial
development which would enhance employment opportunities for youths and it will
take substantial number of youths out of poverty.
Source:Sunnewsonline.com
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