The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness in repositioning Nigeria`s agriculture sector.
President Bola Tinubu stated this at the 6th Africa Wide Agricultural Extension Week (AAEW) on Monday in Abuja.
The President was represented by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi.
Tinubu said that the Federal Government recognised the huge potential of agriculture as a key sector in driving the nation’s economy.
The theme of the conference is: Harnessing Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services in Scaling Regenerative Agriculture and Nature Based Solutions for Food System Transformation in Africa.
The president said it was reassuring and pleasing that the present Federal Government recognised the huge potentials of agriculture as a key sector in driving the nation’s economy.
“It is against this background that the present administration is pursuing an 8-point agenda which include food security; poverty eradication; growth, job creation and access to capital amongst others.
“The Federal Government seeks to restructure the economy from unnecessary borrowing to finance government programme as well as create jobs, achieve economic growth, “prosperity for all,” and end poverty.
“Agriculture must be market-oriented and move away from the subsistence farming been practiced by our smallholders farmers.
In a remark, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, said that the importance of extension services could not be over emphasised.
He said that was why the Agricultural Extension Service Department was created in December 2012.
Umakhihe said it was created to disseminate and support farmers to adopt improved technology, and innovation for sustainable Agricultural development and productivity.
He said that the essence of Agricultural Extension Services was to address post harvest challenges, capacity building and for food security.
Umakhihe was represented by Mr Mike Brooks, the Director, Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Services, ministry of Agriculture.
Earlier, the Governor of Niger, Mohammed Bago, restated the commitment of the state Government in the development of agricultural and extension services in the State.
Bago said that Niger welcomes partnerships and collaboration for sustainable agriculture and acceleration of the country’s economic growth.
He was represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Musa Bosso.
Also speaking, the governor of Benue, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia said that the importance of Agricultural Extension in Nigeria cannot not be over emphasised.
He said that there was a decline in human capacity in terms of Agricultural Extension Services.
Alia said that the state was ready to implement all the findings of the conference, as it was crucial to the development of the country.
The governor was represented by Prof. Moses Ogbaji, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources.
(NAN)