You read the heading right.
Amazed?
Shocked?
Well, its good you have to be surprise at such things like this, the private sector as invest
#1.7 trillion in Nigeria Agricultural sector to boost the sector and
unleash the potential that is embedded in it.
Seriously great
investors are starting to realize the power of Agriculture and "FOOD SECURITY" in changing the world.
President Goodluck Jonathan,
on
thursday in Addis Ababa said about
" $11 billion (1.7 trillion) "
as been invested in Nigeria's Agricultural sector by private investors
and development partners since the federal government launched the
country's Agricultural Transformation Agenda in 2011.
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Adding to this, according to statistics, over 65% of the arable land left to
feed 9-billion people in the world is in Africa, its high-time we stop
importation of food item knowing fully well that we are so endowed
with resources in the Agricultural sector, if we must truly gain the
freedom we desire then there is need for us to feed ourselves with
pride.
Speaking at a session of the ongoing 22nd Summit of African
Union Heads of State and Government dedicated to the consideration of
measures to boost agricultural production and food security in Africa,
President Jonathan urged other African countries to emulate Nigeria's
decision to treat agriculture as a viable business and not "a
development programme",
which, he said, was yielding positive benefits
for the country.
MUST READ: YOU WANT TO INVEST INTO AGRICULTURE? GET SOME SUCCESS TO HELP YOU GET STARTED
Nigeria launched the Agricultural Transformation
Agenda in 2011, with the goal of increasing our domestic food
production by an additional 20 million MT and creating 3.5 million
jobs by 2015.
"So much has been achieved since then.
To ensure that our farmers get farm inputs directly, we developed the electronic
wallet system, which allows farmers to get their subsidized seeds and
fertilizers directly via electronic coupons on their mobile phones.
"Within two years, 6 million farmers have received their farm inputs
directly via their mobile phones. Our farmers produced an additional
16 million metric tons of food, which is over 70 per cent of our
target of 20 million metric tons for 2015.
"This has improved the food security of 30 million persons in farm
households. We expect to reach 10 million farmers with the electronic
wallet by this year, which will improve the food security of 50
million persons.
MUST READ: HOW TO START A COMMERCIAL POULTRY FARMING BUSINESS IN NIGERIA.. INTRODUCTION TO POULTRY.
"Our approach of treating agriculture as a business is paying off.
About five billion US dollars has come from our local private sector
into fertilizer manufacturing.
An additional four billion US dollars
has come in from private sector in the agricultural value chains.
Development partners have put in close to two billion US dollars in
support of Nigeria's Agricultural Transformation Agenda.
The president also give more attention to empowerment and development of
women farmer as women plays vast role in the economic development and
we must encourage them to take up their role in agricultural
development of the nation.
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The African Union has
declared 2014 as The Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa.
The 22nd summit of African Union Heads of State and Government has
"Transforming Africa's Agriculture: Harnessing Opportunities for
Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development"
as its theme. '
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