TheCable

The federal government has inaugurated a six-year national agricultural technology and innovation policy (NATIP) from 2022 to 2027 to enhance agribusiness in the country.

The six-year policy aims at achieving sustainable development of national technological and innovative capacity to fast-track import substitution.

Mohammed Abubakar, minister of agriculture and rural development, who spoke at the inauguration in Abuja on Friday, said the policy was needed especially to prioritise the reduction of rice, dairy and fish imports.

He added that it also aims to increase resilience and digital agriculture, thereby, promoting agricultural investments.

“This is a response to the present administration’s agenda of diversifying the nation’s economy from petroleum oil-based to agriculture and solid minerals-driven national development strategy,” he said.

“This would empower small-scale farmers to adopt new technologies and best practices for enhanced production, processing of agricultural commodities for local consumption, and export to other countries.

“The focus of the new NATIP 2022- 2027 was premised on the 10 thematic areas of stakeholders’ synergy and alignment, knowledge creation and transfer, rapid mechanisation, and agricultural development fund establishment.

“Others are, extension service delivery revitalisation and livestock development, priority crop value-chain strengthening, fisheries and aquaculture.

“Also included, marine and inland fisheries development, market development, and agriculture land investments partnership.”

Abubakar, however, said it was on record that the ministry’s operation over the last six years had been shaped by the agricultural promotion policy of 2016-2020.

He said the 2016-2020 framework facilitated an appreciable increase in agricultural production and job creation through infrastructure, research, extension, mechanisation, and value-chain activities in the country.

“The ministry sustained all various initiatives for the development of the agriculture sector; the issue of embracing technology and innovation became inevitable for transforming the nation’s agricultural system,” he added.

On his part, Bedru Balana, country programme leader, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), said women and youth should be mainstreamed across the agricultural value chains, within the framework of innovation and enterprises.

“This is crucial as Nigeria continues to focus on creating jobs through agriculture for its growing youth and vulnerable population in the face of the current economic and environmental sectors, and climate shocks among others,” he said.