The Agricultural Minister is anything but short of
optimism as regards Nigeria’s agricultural sector. A fact he demonstrated to
investors at a round table discussion in Geneva.
Discussing with a panel of investors and economic
experts, Adesina stated, ” Nigeria has no business importing food. We should be
a global power house on food.”
Adesina is probably one of the busiest members of
the Jonathan administration, according to statistics in his favour.
As part of campaign promises leading to the 2011
elections, President Jonathan laid out ambitious targets to raise food
production such as rice and cocoa by 20 million tonnes within four years after
his 2011 election victory.
In 2012, the first measurable year since the
President’s pledge, food output was in excess of an additional 8.1 million
tonnes. This performance contrasts with the ministry’s target of 5 million
tonne.
Nigeria is the world’s second rice importer,
according to US Agricultural Department statistics. Adesina says Nigeria will
stop importing rice and double cocoa production to 500,000 tonnes by 2015.
He disclosed that Nigeria built 14 new rice mills in
2012 with capacity to produce 250,000 tonnes.
Private Sector Investment in the sector was $8
billion, according to the minister.
No comments:
Post a Comment