A social commentator, educationist and pioneer Rector of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) College, Jos, Malam Abdulkarim Abdullahi has disclosed that the country’s agricultural policies, have over the years, have caged, trapped and under-developed the sector.
Abdullahi, said this in a chat with The Guardian in Gombe, and blamed the activities of the elites and their mutual collaborators and accomplices in the civil service system for the neglect.
He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari has made agriculture the priority of his government, thereby giving the Nigerian farming community, especially the virtually neglected and long abandoned rural farmers a new vista.
Abdullahi said “The Green Alternative,” has given Nigerians new hopes and sense of fulfillment, especially the unemployed youth to see agriculture and farming as the opportunity to fight poverty. “The new policy has incorporated the Buhari Youth in Agriculture. But the question agitating the minds of Nigerians is whether the present administration would match word with action and make the difference in the agricultural sector.
He told participants at the 55th Annual General Meeting of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (NACCIMA) that; “Our goal will be to pursue government supported private sector agriculture value chain to make agriculture more productive, efficient and competitive. To provide enough food for domestic supply and create jobs through agriculture value chain.”