Group Urges FG To Prioritise Agric

A Non-Government Organisation called Action Aid Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to give priority attention to agriculture because of its importance the nation’s economy.

The programme officer of the organization, Miss Constance Okere, who made the call said that besides food provision, the sector also creates employment especially for youths.

According to her, agricultural sector accounts for 42 per cent cross Domestic Products (GDP) in the country.

She, therefore, stressed the need for government at all levels to implement previous polices and programmes put in place to develop the sector and ensure that peasant farmers especially women were carried on long in the agricultural policies and programmes in the country.

Describing small –scale farmers as the major producers of food in the country, Miss Okeke said that efforts should be geared towards encouraging and enhancing their productivity.

“Engaging in commercial agriculture does not have do with the size of the farm land alone, it is having the wherewithal and all the necessary factors of production needed to increase production.

She was of the view that commercial could be practiced in small or large scale while decying the high interest rate and stringent  conditionalities charged  by commercial banks to give loans to small scale farmers in the country.

Miss Okeke appealed to federal government to put measures aid at ensuring that farmers access, agricultural loans in order to improve farming implements and production.