Agriculture
AN agriculture expert, Mr Akin Alabi, has said right leadership is critical for growth of the agriculture sector.
Alabi, the co-founder of Corporate Farmers International, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
The expert reiterated the need for appropriate leadership at the helm of agriculture and to put square pegs in square holes.
According to him, “The major factor that influences food security in the country today is leadership. We need the right people to determine the right policies for the country to boost agricultural productivity and food security.
“We must engage those who are agric. practitioners, who understand the entire agro-ecosystem, and are committed. They must be the ones to lead the sector.
“We have to be intentional on how to move the agriculture sector forward in order to boost food security,” The expert told NAN.
In addition, Alabi said that despite the various shifts in government, the need to get leadership right is critical for growth of the sector.
“The entire Nigerian agriculture sector has gone through various shifts due to change in government.
“When we had the African Food Summit by the African Development Bank (AFDB), the critical things that were discussed was that Africa is the frontier of the world.
“And Nigeria is known as the country that is known for cultivation of major cash crops. There is no African country that can produce what Nigeria produces.
“However, the question is ‘are we really investing in agriculture?’ from the private sector, the government and all its development partners.
“Today, we have all it takes to boost the agric. sector, but do we have people at the helm of affairs to improve the sector.
“We do not have leaders that could help us improve the sector, that is still the gap we have in the sector,” Alabi said.
According to him, “If we could close the gap to a certain margin, definitely Nigeria will be food secure in the nearest future.
“When we put square pegs in square holes, everything will fall in place in the sector.
“If we appoint engineers, doctors or even tailors to head Agriculture ministries and portfolio, we are doomed for failure,” he said. (NAN)
A.I
Tags: Mr Akin Alabi
