Ezekwesili lauds development in agric sector

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

Former Vice-President of the World Bank, Dr Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili,   has commended the Federal Government’s strides in the development of the agricultural sector in the country, NaijaAgroNet reports.

Ezekwesili made this commendation while speaking the press in Lagos, stressing that the focus on agricultur

e has empowered the farmers and also redirected the attention of over 60 per cent of the population into agriculture and other allied businesses.

NaijaAgroNet learnt from her that government initiative towards agriculture and agribusiness is very good as such was enhancing productivity in the sector and helping to tackle poverty.

``So, you go to that informal sector of agriculture, you provide them with the kind of tools and the kinds of facilities, the extension services, the links to the market, the seeds and inputs, the access to credit. With the better business environment, all of these add together to improve their productivity, and   therefore, will improve their income. Because when you enhance the income of the farmers, what it means is that they have more money that they can spend even in offering education to their children. So that circle of activities is so important for taking the entire society out of poverty. You don’t lift people out of poverty; you give people what they need in order to lift themselves out of poverty,” she said

*with additional report from NAN

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pix: Dr Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili,