By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari has said that agricultural potentials of Nigeria is barely being tapped which explains the inability of the country to meet the ever-increasing demand for agricultural produce.
Sen. Kyari who made this known while declaring open the 1st Zazzau National Education, Trade and Investment Summit (ZANETIS- 2024) held at the Zaria Polo Club on Wednesday.
Represented by Anto Ambi Deputy Director Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Kaduna, said the exhibition programme was designed to chart a way forward at unlocking the untapped potential of Zazzau emirate, Kaduna state and Nigeria by showcasing and promoting vast opportunities in various sectors of our economy.
The Minister said, although the Agricultural sector remains a dominant employer of Labour, serious investment is needed across the board to enhance production and increase the contribution of the sector to GDP.
He said, as a result of downward swing in economic activities at the beginning of this administration resulting in general economic decline, drop in stock market activities, increase in unemployment.
According to him, the Federal Government saw an urgent need to reverse this ugly trend.
“Driven by the need for economic growth and sustenance through diversification, the Federal Government developed a roadmap to transit the Nigerian economy from a mono product economy to a more robust and diversified one that offers opportunity for real growth”.
The Minister assured that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will continue to promote agribusiness investment and strengthen production technology through it’s policies and programmes and right partnership with the private sectors by providing enabling environment as well as the required inputs for increased productivity and value chain addition.
In his welcome address, the Vice President of the association, Prof. Abdu Jaafaru Bambale said the noble idea was executed with active support and collaboration from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and investment and Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology.
He said the idea of ZANETIS was born out of the efforts made by Zazzau Chamber of commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ZAZCCIMA) Investment Ltd, Association of International Trade and Investment Promoters (AITIP) of Nigeria, Triple H Meat House & Farms and Durbar Global Resources Ltd is to foster Agricultural growth and investment in Nigeria.
Prof. Bambale said, their platform for farmers, investors and academics, agriculture, science, technology, investment and development, Specifically, the event aims to showcase agricultural farm produce grown around Zazzau Emirate, Kaduna State.
Also to Foster collaboration among various stakeholders for enhanced food production, job creation and food security.
Stimulate interest and possible investment for enhanced growth in the food production value chain and to encourage transformation of knowledge, talents and ideas into viable and profitable ventures into agriculture and other agro-allied ventures.
Prof. Jaafaru Bambale said specifically the Livestock, Farm Produce and foodstuffs exhibition is an important event under the auspices of ZANETIS 2024. Its overall goal is to contribute to the attainment of food security and economic growth of Nigeria through increased agricultural productivity, increased investment in agriculture and agro-allied ventures.
The exhibition further aims to provide a platform for reviving livestock producti on with emphasis on household cows and horse breeding in Zazzaui Emirate, Kaduna State and Nigeria.
ZANETIS 3024 ” currently developing a Business Model called “Cow and Horse Bank” which will be pilot tested after the Summit.
In his remarks Alhaji Nuhu Aminu Chairman All Formers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Kaduna state branch appealed to the government to as a matter of urgency to release the farm inputs to Farmers as the raining season has started.
Aminu also urged government to double it’s funding in the agricultural sector since it has declared state of emergency on food security.
The AFAN Chairman called on farmers not to wait as farming season has began since time is not on our side.
