Investment in agriculture will create massive opportunities says expert

Dr. Olaiwola Ogunpaimo, a scholar specializing in Animal Breeding and Genetics and a former staff with the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, has emphasized the urgent need for the Federal Government to make substantial investments in the agricultural sector.

Ogunpaimo who delivered a virtual lecture on ‘Harnessing business opportunities in Agriculture, utilising local and international opportunities,’ at the Conference of Bola Ahmed Tinubu National Support Groups, said the unemployment and poverty levels in Nigeria would be solved with investment in agriculture.

He insisted that with the type of hoe and cutlass means of farming that mostly dominated the Nigerian agricultural space, it might be difficult for the new administration to address the current unemployment and poverty levels.

“Based on current reality and unfolding events in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large, a country like Nigeria with more than 70 million hectares of land, 180 million livestock, and over 210 million population already possesses what is required to break the shackles of poverty and unemployment for its citizens,” he said.

He advised the government to give Agriculture, particularly crop and livestock production, fisheries, and forestry topmost priority by making it sustainable, creating impactful policies and programmes that are capable of improving the current status of the Nigerian economy as well as creating massive job opportunities for the people.