The Federal Government on Wednesday announced that it would commence its agricultural mechanisation initiative in the next three months.
It was also gathered in Abuja that the government of Turkey planned to invest $15m in the Nigerian agricultural sector in two years.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, explained that the mechanisation policy would involve a full technology package transfer to cover all stages from agricultural production to industrial processing, packaging and marketing.
Nanono, who spoke at a meeting with the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, described the agricultural mechanisation programme as the solution to achieving food sufficiency and job creation in Nigeria.
“The programme will be private sector-driven and government will only create a conducive environment and offer assistance where necessary,” he stated.
The minister said Ogun State was notable for cocoa and rice production, adding that there was a need to revive the cocoa industry in particular.
“We must develop new cocoa varieties in Nigeria because the new cocoa varieties will yield in two and half years,” Nanono said.
He said the programme would have service centres across the country, 140 processing stations and would enhance production, create jobs and grow the nation’s Internally Generated Revenue.
Source: Punch Newspaper
