Obasanjo Knocks Govt, Financial Institutions, Researchers for Victimising Farmers

Gilbert Ekugbe 

Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has blamed the federal government, financial institutions and researchers for victimising Nigerian farmers, noting the urgent need to correct the injustice that has been done to the Nigerian farmers in the past.

According to him, the research products required to achieve great strides in agriculture are available, but bemoaned that not much of the research work reaches the hand of the farmers due to lack of funds to acquire these research tools needed to boost farmers’ productivity.

At an agribusiness investors network organised by the Innovative Youth in Agribusiness (I-Youth), Obasanjo also blamed the federal government’s inconsistent policies over the years for hindering the nation’s agricultural development.

“The government is the major factor hindering the farmers growth and development, because they eat from both sides of the mouth. They say something today and another thing tomorrow so how then can you do a business sustainably,” he lamented.

In his words: “What you are trying to do here is to correct the injustice that has been done to the Nigerian farmers in the past and I hope that injustice will be corrected because researchers, financial institutions and the government have all victimised the farmers. Farmers have been victims from all of you.”

The Former President who also doubles as the Patron Democratic Republic of the Congo-Nigeria Business Council also pointed out the urgent need for loans given to farmers to be guaranteed in order to get commercial banks and other financial institutions to increase their lending to the agricultural sector, saying that agriculture is a serious business that requires commitment, reasonable funds, right and appropriate input to thrive.

Earlier, the Deputy Director General Partnership for Delivery, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ken Dashiell, said IITA has been partnering with many institutions in Nigeria to develop agriculture technologies to increase food production in the country.

He said stakeholders must strengthen collaborations to provide research that would help the youth to be successful in agribusiness.

On his part, the Managing Director and Regional Executive, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Bolaji Lawal, stated that the bank is committed to working with every value-adding enterprise organisation aimed at transforming the nation’s economy to grow Nigeria into a vibrant emerging economy 

The Executive Manager, I-Youth Project, Alone Mugisho, said the agricultural sector is struggling because it does not have the technical know-how, calling on all stakeholders and the government to leverage on the opportunities in agriculture to achieve an all inclusive economic growth.