Invest in Agriculture not Mansions: how feasible

[Yunan]

I am referring to the recent call by the speaker of the house of representatives asking for entrepreneurs to invest in Agriculture and not Mansions. It is a good call. But there are so many things that needs to be put in place legislative wise to make it easy for entrepreneurs to flood the agricultural sector. Putting up a legislation to prohibit importation of what we can produce is one.
The second is access to agricultural information is poor, third infrastructure is not so good so it adds to the problem

Nigeria’s entrepreneurs should invest in agriculture not mansions – Dogara


Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has ​advised ​the wealthy in Nigeria to invest resources in mechanised farming in Nigeria​.

He said this w​ill generate revenue for the country and bring the needed foreign exchange to move the economy forward.

Speaking when he visited Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, Plateau State, Dogara said owners of land and capital should look beyond building of estates for rent and move into agriculture where they can provide employment while generating wealth.

He said, “I want to call on other entrepreneurs in Nigeria, especially those who have capital in hand, to take to mechanised farming and for most of our businessmen who think that the only way you can make money is through rent seeking to now see this as an example where you can add value to peoples lives and our nation’s economy.

“If you look at milk produced in Nigeria, if we continue to depend on imports, that will deplete our forex in the sense that we have to contend with a situation whereby we always apply for forex to be able to bring in these products,” he added.

Dogara also noted that agriculture can only contribute meaningfully to economic growth in Nigeria when it is mechanised, as “there is no way we can compete in the global space without mechanised farming.

Earlier, Air Vice Marshall Ishaya Shekari (rtd), who runs the farm, which produces Farm Fresh Yoghurt, urged the government to provide land for farmers under ownership basis, saying it will make them feel more secure.

​He further thanked the Speaker for his interest and support for agriculture​.

Dogara also noted that agriculture can only contribute meaningfully to economic growth in Nigeria when it is mechanised, as “there is no way we can compete in the global space without mechanised farming.

Earlier, Air Vice Marshall Ishaya Shekari (rtd), who runs the farm, which produces Farm Fresh Yoghurt, urged the government to provide land for farmers under ownership basis, saying it will make them feel more secure.

​He further thanked the Speaker for his interest and support for agriculture​.

http://dailypost.ng/2017/06/04/nigerias ... ns-dogara/

[bonama]

Well, I see it differently. The hurdles are there but the rewards are aplenty. It's just that agriculture gets ones hands "dirty" and alot of people see opportunities as too much work