By Oguntimehin Sunita and Abdulmumeen Aishat
The Provost, Federal College of Wildlife Management, New Bussa, Niger
State, Dr. Titus Ampitan, has stressed the need for Nigerian farmers
to add value to their farm produce to make it acceptable on the global
market.
Speaking on Monday at the opening ceremony of a five-day workshop held
at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI),
Ilorin, on Agricultural Products Export Promotion
Engagement/Empowerment Program for men, women and youths of Ifelodun
local government area of Kwara state.
While reiterating that agriculture remains the major occupation of
rural dwellers in Nigeria he lamented that, “this all important
profession has not yielded much for the people that practice it as a
result of the methods employed in carrying out their farming
activities.”
He said this has greatly hindered farmers from having maximum benefits
from their produce thereby leading to poverty.
According to Dr. Ampitan, “For our farmers to remain in commercial
farming, they must be creative in whatever they are producing. The
global market does not just accept any product, such products that are
coming into international market must have been improved upon, that
is, value must have been added to them.”
He noted that Agricultural products exportation has become an
important instrument that the government is promoting in order to
improve the living standard of the peasant farmers through foreign
exchange earnings.
The Provost further disclosed that given the current dwindling
earnings from the oil industry, the federal government is embarking on
programs that will promote exportation of agricultural products in
order to produce products that can meet international market needs.
He explained that this program hinges on four very important outcome:
wealth creation for the rural populace, poverty reduction, employment
generation and value reorientation.
“In order to help the nation in food production and good agricultural
practices, Federal College of Wildlife Management, New Bussa, a
training arm of Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan,
thought it wise to train men, women and youths in areas of farm
produce handlings, and ways agricultural products can be processed to
meet international standards. The college usually embarks on
researches that are farmer oriented and the results of these are
usually disseminated to farmers through demonstrations and training,”
he said.
He disclosed that the workshop will ensure that both practicing and
new entrants into the agricultural products production get acquainted
with the nitty gritty of handling and storage methods of their farm
products for international market.
Earlier in his address, the Executive Director of ARMTI, Dr. Olufemi
Oladunni had said the ongoing border closure is beneficial to Nigerian
farmers only if they can see the opportunities opened to them.
The ED noted that some young farmers engaged in snail farming, poultry
farming and others are already making good use of the border closure
to make more money for themselves.
In his address, the principal consultant of Magic Touch Business
Solution Limited, Mr. Sunday Babalola said the program was borne out
of the fire need to equip participants with the relevant skills needed
for sustaining agri-bussiness in the country.
He stressed that a strong and efficient agricultural sector will
enable the country to feed its growing population, generate
employment, earn foreign exchange and provide raw materials for
industries.
Babalola who commended the Federal College of Wildlife Management for
being in the forefront of ensuring effective and efficient
implementation of various agricultural development policies of the
Federal Government disclosed that over 75 participants will benefit
from the workshop.
