Expert Advocates Harvest Security For Farmers

The Country Represen
tative of Harvest Plus, Dr. Paul Ilona, has called on the federal government to introduce policies that would make the agricultural sector more viable and productive.
He said the move would help the country in tackling the problem associated with unemployment and managing the impact on climate change in the country.
Ilona canvassed the policy option in his paper on, “Training and capacity building in value chains: creating and strengthening linkages for job creation, profitability and agricultural transformation”, delivered at the Capacity Building in Agricultural Education in Nigeria, (CBAEN) project event in Akure, Ondo State, recently.
Recognizing agriculture as the nation’s greatest source of growth in view of its far-reaching  benefits including its critical roles in industrialization and diversification of the economic base.
Ilona posited that the integration of good policies which focus on diversification into cash crops, livestock and value addition on commodities would make the agricultural sector more viable and productive.
On steps that needed to be taken to mitigate climate change challenges in the country, the industry expert emphasized the need for harvest security to prevent post-harvest losses and in turn ensure increased revenue for farmers in the country.
With 29.5 per cent unemployment rate as at 2013, the country director stressed the need for a review of the policies to reflect business ideals and attractiveness to the youths in their key areas of concern such as agricultural mechanization, transportation, water and other basic amenities which if provided would drive youths interest in value addition than actual production.