The National Association of Agricultural Economists has on Thursday, January 29, 2021 revealed that lack of commitment to agricultural policies has hindered agriculture in Nigeria.
The National President of the association, Professor Job Nmadu made this known to The Voice during an opening ceremony of Special National Conference and Colloquium in the honor of the Vice Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo (AEFUNAI), professor Chinedum Nwajiuba, in Abakaliki the state capital.
He stated that major reasons for setback in agricultural development in Nigeria are that most of the decisions are not based on credible evidence, and lack reliable data. Adding that lack of commitment from policy makers among others have hampered the growth of Agriculture in the country.
Prof Job lauded the out going Vice Chancellor of Alex Ekweme Federal university, for his agricultural feat in the institution, while calling on Government at all level and individuals’ for collaborative efforts to ensure adequate sustainability of Agricultural sector in Nigeria.
He urged Government to increase the funding for research and development of the sector which would help to develop new technology that would serve as factor of production of adequate food and fibre to the expanding population.
” Most often than note, the prime mover for such development is economic research and that is why we are here to deliberate on the way and means that can lead us to fulfill the achievements of 2030 SDGs” he stated.
However, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, Vice Chancellor of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo Ebonyi, has called on the Nigerian University Commission to review the entry requirements for agricultural programmes in Nigerian universities.
“I have argued in various fora that undergraduate programmes in agriculture in most developed and developing countries range from three to four years.
“Their certificates are still recognized in Nigeria for higher degrees, employment among others.
“There is however, no evidence that Nigeria’s five-year undergraduate programme produces better agricultural graduates than the programmes with three to four year duration,” he said.
He noted that in line with the theme of the conference: “Agricultural Development in Nigeria: Evidence can chart the path” researchers should interrogate the usefulness of the additional year.
“The AE-FUNAI has agreed to have a faculty of agriculture that is innovative and unique in its manner of raising a new generation of Nigerian agricultural graduates.
“My desire has been for our faculty of agriculture to discover ways of emulating the training and experience-building model used by colleges of medicine.” he said.
Mrs Jane Munonye, Acting Dean, Faculty of Agriculture in the university said the conference’s theme was appropriate particularly in this era of COVID-19 pandemic when the world is devising resilient ways of producing sustainable food.
Collaborating with the national vice president Job Nnamdo on the challenges facing agricultural development in Nigeria , she stated “lack of implementation of Government policies;
Lack of social amenities; Lack of access to Agricultural loans; Lack of access to fertilizer and improved seedlings; Lack of information; loss of land to Natural disaster such as erosion; and lack of storage facilities”. She enumerated
Adding that “the colloquium is apt and relevant because the current government’s direction challenges us in the academia to lend voices to the national need and make a significant input in our nation,” she said.
However, the association awarded three persons for their contributions in Agricultural development in the State and beyond. These persons include Chief David Nwachukwu, Mr. Augustine Obasi and Ebonyi Agro limited Ikwo.
