The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono has called on agricultural research institutes to focus more on developing the sector through their work stating that ‘’no agricultural revolution will take place without research.
He emphasized that Research Institutes remain the engine of growth in the sector and as such their contributions remain invaluable in any action that will turn around the country’s fortunes.
According to a statement signed by Assistant Director, Information, Mrs Eno Olotu, on Friday, the Minster stated this when he received in audience the Governing Board of the National Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCA) and the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs), in his office in Abuja.
Nanono urged the Boards to create the enabling environment for agriculture to thrive and also advised them on the need for synergy to address issues affecting them.
Nanono said the institutes are very strategic in the next level agenda of the administration, stating that “this government has come to develop the agricultural sector”,…….“I want to be very serious with the research institutes, so that they will research on improved seeds that will be suitable to our environment for maximum yield’’.
Drawing from his wealth of experience in farming, the Minister noted that enormous opportunities abound in the sector and as such he called on Nigerians to refocus on making agriculture the hub of economic growth in the country.
In an earlier remark, Chairman of the Governing Board of NARIs, ARCN and the Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCA), Barr. Adetunji Ajagbe, expressed satisfaction with the Minister’s vested interest in the research system and his vision for transforming the sector for national prosperity while promising on behalf of all stakeholders that efforts will be made to redouble the capacity of the Institutes in order to re-invigorate the sector for maximum production.
