Ololade Omosan-Agie
ActionAid Nigeria has called on partners, donors and stakeholders in the Public Finance for Agriculture project to boost their investment in the agricultural sector of the economy.
It said that with the high level of inflation facing the country, there is need for investors to increase their level of investment in the sector.
This,the organisation stated, would help to guarantee self sufficiency in good production.
The organisation also expressed optimism that Nigeria could feed itself and feed many countries in Africa, as agriculture used to be its main economic mainstay.
The Country Director, ActionAid, Ms. Ene Obi, said these in Abuja after the PFA learning and close-out meeting of the project.
According to her, the country was so blessed with both natural, human resources and an extensive and available workforce.
She said Nigeria must, however, diversify its economy as agriculture presented a great opportunity for creating employment.
Obi said, “Nigeria can feed itself and feed many countries in Africa. Serious attention and investment is needed.
“Agriculture used to be the main economic stay of Nigeria, and Nigeria is so blessed with both natural and human resource.
“The workforce is extensive and available. Nigeria must diversify its economy and agriculture is a great opportunity for creating employment.
“The PFA project was designed to catalyse increased quantity and quality of public investment in agriculture, so as to increase the productivity and well-being of women smallholder farmers, their households, and communities across the country.
“This project was able to empower smallholder women farmers and CSOs through capacity building, evidence-based data generation and creation of policy and programmes influencing spaces.”
On his part, the Director of Partnership and Business Development, Plan International, Dr. Oji Ogbureke, urged the Federal Government to take the project from the level where the small holder farmers stopped.
He said that this would make the smallholder farmers across the country to benefit from incentives from both the federal and state governments and not just from AAN.