A don, Prof. Kolawole Adebayo, has called for the provision of basic amenities and infrastructure in rural areas to boost the country’s agricultural development.

Adebayo, a Professor of Rural Development Communication at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

The academic called on government to boost the productivity of agriculture in the country through the provision of basic infrastructure in rural areas.

“Poor policies and the implementation of them affect the potential of agricultural growth in the country.

“Where the government fails in the provision of major infrastructure to agriculture especially roads, agriculture cannot thrive.

“For instance agriculture relies on good infrastructure to thrive; good roads in particular, are very important to agriculture.

“If you produce large quantities of any commodity and you are unable to move it from the place of production to the place of consumption, you are doomed as a farmer.

“The local farmer should not be the one to construct the roads; roads should be constructed and maintained by government at various levels.

“The construction of good roads in a remote village is not necessarily for the benefit of villagers alone but will improve the value chain of agricultural produce around the country,’’ he said.

Adebayo also called for the partnership of the Federal Ministries of Transportation and Agriculture to promote and improve the nation’s agric value-chain.

“For instance the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Transportation should work closely together to promote the growth of agriculture in the country.

“The provision of other infrastructure like electricity, water, good health facilities, and good education in the rural areas will encourage modern farmers to stay in the rural areas.

“For instance, to a graduate of agriculture, what will be the incentive for him to stay in that village and practice modern agriculture when the infrastructure are not available.

“A good incentive in developed climes is that the infrastructure are available for the local farmers to thrive.

“Though the provision of infrastructure may not have a direct bearing with agriculture but a visionary government provides them, ‘’ he said.

Adebayo called on the government to tackle the insecurity issues in the Northeast and North-central to boost the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“We cannot be talking about the development and growth of agriculture without talking about the provision of basic infrastructure.

“Once we do not get it right there are a lot of things connected to agriculture; we will miss the potential for growth in the sector.

“For instance some of the best agricultural lands in the country are in the Northeast and North-central and are currently being plagued by insecurity issues.

“If the government tackles the insecurity issues, the agricultural produce of all these places will add to the national Gross Domestic Product of the country,’’ he said.

-NAN

BE

– Jan. 23, 2019 @ 13:45 GMT |