The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce,Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has called on Nigerians to key in to the diversification plans of the federal government by becoming agropreneurs.
The National President of NACCIMA, Iyalode Alaba Lawson who made this call in a paper she delivered at the Monthly Forum of the National Association of Agricultural Journalists (NAAJ) in Lagos recently described agriculture as the way to go if Nigeria hopes to get it right this time around.
Represented by the Chairman, NACCIMA Export Advocacy Group and Vice President of OLAM Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ade Adefeko, the NACCIMA boss hinted that both the large scale farmers and the small scale farmers were all important since they complement each other in their respective areas of specialization.
According to her,”In NACCIMA, particularly from the export group side, we have small scale, medium scale and large scale enterprises which are exporting. So, I represent that sector and of course, you know my President represents a larger one. NACCIMA is taken seriously and as you know, agriculture is the way, non-oil export, we want to diversify.
“We have to take agriculture as the base and this is why I always tell people that it is not farming anymore, it is agribusiness, all of us must strive to be agropreneurs. So, the large scale farmers, the small scale farmers, are all important. The multinationals, the OLAMs of the world, the Dangotes of this world must off take from the small holder farmers because the small holder farmers will grow what you want and you off take from them”.
She recalled that during the Obasanjo administration, farmers were encouraged to grow cassava which they did and companies off took from them but after a while, there was a policy flip flops.
“Fortunately for us, the current administration is taking agriculture very seriously, we produce some of the things from that industry, we are happy with some of the things they are doing. You cannot be happy with everything they are doing, the important thing is that when you see sincerity, you must acknowledge it.
“The last administration had what you call the Transformation Agenda, Agricultural Transformation Agenda, the current one has decided to look at the gap, they plugged it and are now doing agricultural change agenda. That is why you have the Green Alternative which the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh and his junior Minister, Heineken Lokpobiri are working towards to”.
She therefore reminded the journalists of how important it is for them to report the fact begging them to feel free to contact her when they don’t have the fact even as she said that she is accessible.
Send your news, press releases/articles to augustinenwadinamuo@yahoo.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @reportersinfo and on Facebook on facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526, 08053908817.
