By Nita Duru
As Nigeria’s population continues to burgeon, the imperative of ensuring food security and driving economic growth becomes increasingly evident. Agriculture emerges as the beacon that can illuminate this path towards a more prosperous future for Nigeria, offering a plethora of benefits and opportunities.
Agriculture, with its multifaceted advantages, possesses the transformative capacity to pave a brighter future for Nigeria. It promises food security, thereby reducing dependency on food imports, eradicating hunger, and guaranteeing a consistent supply of nourishing sustenance for Nigeria’s burgeoning population.
The economic growth fostered by agriculture can be a powerful antidote to many of Nigeria’s challenges. It has the potential to generate employment, elevate income levels, and substantially diminish poverty rates. Rural development initiatives grounded in agriculture can empower the country’s rural inhabitants, most of whom depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. This, in turn, could lead to the enhancement of rural infrastructure and an overall enhancement of the socio-economic conditions in these areas.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s agricultural exports possess untapped potential. These exports could enable the nation to access global markets, generate foreign exchange earnings, and ultimately bolster Nigeria’s trade balances.
However, the significance of creating a future through agriculture extends beyond its economic ramifications. It has the potential to foster development across various sectors while remaining intrinsically tied to environmental sustainability. By advocating for sustainable agricultural practices that safeguard natural resources, curtail greenhouse gas emissions, and bolster climate resilience in the face of climate change challenges, Nigeria can chart a sustainable course toward development.
Nigeria, with about 70,8 million hectares of agricultural land area, grows crops like maize, cassava, millet, guinea corn, beans, yam and rice. Thus, Nigeria’s agriculture sector is being impacted with numerous challenges ranging from poor land tenure system, insecurity, low technology, high production cost, limited financing, poor access to markets, and so many others.
Managing the situation to increase agricultural productivity and provide sufficient quantities of food to meet domestic demand and abundance of commodity crops for export in the international market, the Federal Government has, over the past years, implemented several initiatives and programmes such as the Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP), Nigeria-African Trade and Investing Promotion Programme, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP), the National Development Plan (NDP), Action Against Desertification (AAD), among others to tackle the existing development challenges confronting the country agriculture sector..
Going forward in an ambitious endeavour to fortify the agricultural sector in Nigeria and West Africa, the leading platform for smart farming technologies in the region is set to host its 5th annual Nigeria International Agriculture Expo 2023 (NIAExpo). Organized by Cooman Events Management Service (CEMS), this event promises to be a pivotal moment for the agricultural industry.
NIAExpo 2023 aims to cater to a broad spectrum of exhibitors and visitors. It is set to shine a spotlight on fertilizers, crop protection, seeds, saplings, horticulture, greenhouse technologies, agricultural mechanization technologies, tractor-side industries, organic agriculture, water and irrigation technologies, and much more. The program presents an invaluable opportunity for those within the agricultural sector to augment their knowledge and expand their networks in their shared journey of creating a prosperous future through agriculture.
In partnership with the Nigeria International Agriculture Expo 2023 are various agriculture sectors in Nigeria such as Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, African Farming and Food Processing among many others.
The NIAEXPO 2023 event is meant to bring together local manufacturers, prominent suppliers, government bodies, and relevant associations to collaboratively address the challenges confronting the agriculture industry. It will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and the showcasing of innovative solutions within the agricultural sector. The Nigeria International Agriculture Expo 2023 is scheduled to be held from October 10th to 12th at the Trade Convention Centre, Abuja. Yekeen Kazeem, the NIAEXPO 2023 Project Lead stated that this year’s expo would be dynamic and enriching experience for industry professionals, stakeholders and enthusiasts alike.
As the sun rises on this agricultural exposition, the hopes for a bountiful future for Nigeria through agriculture burn brighter than ever. It is a journey towards self-sufficiency, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability—a path laden with opportunities and promise.
