Business
‘Policy Inconsistency, Bane Of Agric Dev’
The Chairman, Agri
cultural Trade Group, Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Wale Oyekoya, last Wednesday, identified inconsistent policies as the bane of agricultural development.
Oyekoya told newsmen in Lagos that some of the government policies were affecting agro-based industries.
He said that government needed to put in place policies that would enhance the production of local commodities.
“The Government policy also is affecting the industry, so these are what we are discussing with the Federal Government to relax on the policy of the government so that they can boost the local production.
“The LCCI as an advocacy organisation has been trying to form a synergy with the government in order to forestall this problem.
“They have so many laudable policies, but some of them are not being backed up by good budgeting. For example, this year’s budget is still hanging in the National Assembly.
“They only devoted 1.52 per cent to agriculture, which is totally against the Maputo agreement with the World Bank and the African Union.
“So, these are part of the problems and the inconsistency of policies that we are talking about.’’
Oyekoya, however, urged the Federal Government to look into the issue of farm produce that are coming through the borders.
The Maputo declaration directed all African Union member countries to increase investment in the agriculture sector to at least 10 per cent of the national budget since 2008.