Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has linked the rising actions of bandits and kidnappers to the unemployment scenario within the nation.
Obasanjo spoke throughout his handle on the ninth Worldwide Commerce Exhibition & Convention on Agrofood, Plastics, Printing, and Packaging which was held in Lagos on Tuesday.
The commerce truthful was collectively organised by FairTrade Messe and the Organisation for Know-how Development of Chilly Chain in West Africa.
“After all, if we’re in a position to obtain this, it should enhance our safety. A part of our insecurity are women and men that aren’t correctly engaged. If we’re in a position to give them employment, there might be much less of them getting concerned in banditry, in kidnapping and in doing varied different felony actions that they become involved in,” Obasanjo famous.
The previous president, who described himself as ‘a mad man for agriculture,’ stated there was want to advertise agribusiness for meals safety, vitamin safety, employment, wealth creation, poverty elimination and earnings technology, notably, overseas trade.
Based on him, the drive towards meals safety within the nation should encapsulate meals availability, affordability and accessibility.
Obasanjo stated, “A pal of mine stated to me, you have to be a madman. I requested him what he meant, and he stated if I used to be not a mad man I’d not have gone into agriculture. So, I’m a madman for agriculture. When it has to do with agriculture, you’ll be able to make certain that whenever you name me, I’ll reply.
“Meals safety begins with availability. We should be capable to produce sufficient. Then there may be affordability. We should be capable to get all people who wants meals to have the ability to get the meals that they want. Then there may be accessibility. We should get meals to the place it’s wanted.
“Virtually 40 per cent of our meals go to waste after cultivation. So, meals safety and vitamin safety makes agribusiness necessary.”
Talking additional, Obasanjo famous that one of the vital potent technique of curbing youth emigration, unemployment and insecurity is to get extra younger individuals to embrace agriculture.
He regretted that Nigerian youths typically choose to discover alternatives within the leisure business, which underscores the necessity to make agriculture extra glamorous.
He additionally referred to as on policymakers in any respect ranges to make sure coverage consistency that may enable farmers to set brief and long run targets with out worrying about attainable coverage somersaults which can topple their plans.
A key a part of this, he stated, concerned making single-digit loans obtainable to farmers, as no agribusiness can produce profitably with double digit loans.
He added, “First is employment, with our teeming inhabitants and the issue we’ve with our youths going over the desert and risking their lives on the Mediterranean will cease. What can we do to provide them sufficient employment at residence?
“The world that’s certain to supply employment for our teeming youth inhabitants is agriculture. If you discuss agriculture, not lots of them will wish to come to the farm, they’ll relatively go into the music that they do now. Now we have to make agriculture glamorous as a result of these youths, they make cash that approach (via music), after which you might be asking them to return to the farm. They received’t wish to.
The Managing Director of Fairtrade Messe, Paul Maerz, stated this yr’s version of the occasion options over 140 exhibitors from throughout the globe, showcasing tailor-made merchandise and options for the Nigerian market.
He stated the exhibition was germane as a result of Nigeria’s investments in meals & packaging know-how are hovering, positioning the nation as a key participant in Africa, which trails solely South Africa.
He famous that regardless of important investments in native meals manufacturing, Nigeria stays certainly one of Africa’s foremost meals importers and meals.
He stated, “As we collect right here, we embark on a journey fueled by innovation, collaboration, and shared aspirations for the development of Nigeria’s agrofood and plastics industries. With every passing version, our dedication to excellence has solely grown stronger, and we’re proud to current the elevated requirements set for this yr’s occasion.
“As Africa’s largest economic system continues to put money into agrofood and plastprintpack options, merchandise, and applied sciences, we stand on the threshold of unprecedented alternatives for all market contributors.
“Nigeria’s meals manufacturing has witnessed a outstanding surge of 40 per cent in recent times, from €26bn in 2016 to €36bn in 2020, projected to rise by 48 per cent between 2021 and 2024, from €42bn to €63bn. Imports are surging additional, however Nigeria emerges as a pacesetter in plastics know-how investments, with outstanding development charges.”
On his half, the Minister of Agriculture and Meals Safety, Abubakar Kyari lamented that post-harvest losses stay a urgent concern in Nigeria, with estimates suggesting that as much as 40 per cent of our agricultural produce is misplaced yearly as a result of insufficient storage and transportation services.
This alarming statistic, he stated, represents not solely a considerable financial loss to our farmers but additionally poses a grave risk to meals safety and vitamin in our nation.
Noting that Nigeria, like many different West African nations, grapples with important post-harvest losses, exacerbated by insufficient chilly chain services and inefficient provide chain programs, Kyari stated it was crucial to underscore the pivotal function that chilly chain infrastructure performs in safeguarding the integrity of our agricultural produce and guaranteeing meals safety for the populace.
“Chilly chain infrastructure, encompassing refrigeration, transportation, and storage services, performs a vital function in preserving the standard and dietary worth of agricultural produce from farm to fork.
“On this regard, the Nigerian authorities is dedicated to fostering partnerships and collaborations with each private and non-private stakeholders to strengthen our chilly chain networks,” he stated.
The ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Wouter Plomp, pledged the dedication of the European nation in strengthening ties with Nigeria to make sure meals safety within the nation.
He famous that agriculture was a key element of the Nigerian economic system; therefore, it was necessary to create an setting that permits agriculture to thrive.
