Adesina inaugurates agric boards, commend research institutes

NaijaAgroNet

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has inaugurated 15 boards of agencies and institutes under his ministry in Abuja with a charge to help the country generate revenue internally as well as become a  global player in the food export business, NaijaAgroNet reports.

Adesina said that the board should improve the relations between the management and staff among others things  within a period of nine months and commended the various research institutes, noting that “they are all operated under very harsh conditions, yet are doing very well.”

He said  that Nigeria can feed and sustain itself given its fertile land, labour and highly resourceful people and stressed that agriculture had been reformed from being a developmental activity to become a big business for all stakeholders at all levels.

“We have decided as a country to be more cohesive and efficient in achieving our agricultural dream of making Nigeria a food sufficient and food exporting country,” Adesina said.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the boards inaugurated include, the National Root Crops Research Institute, Abia, National Lake Chad Reasearch Institute, Maiduguri, National Institute for Fresh Water Fisheries Research, Niger, Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research, Bank of Agriculture, and National Horticultural  Institute,  the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Cooperation, National Veterinary Research Institute, Agricultural Research Development Council, FCT, Cocoa Research Institute Of Nigeria, National Cereals Research Institute, Ibadan and National Animal Research Institute.

Speaking on behalf of the board members, Chioma Ohakim assured the president of their support and commitment to ensuring the success of his administration’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda.

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Pix:Minister of Agric &Rural Dev. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina

OGBC plans to diversify into agriculture

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

The Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC) has planned to diversify its operations by going into cassava production to generate more revenue.

The General Manager of OGBC, Mr Tunde Awolana Abeokuta made this known while playing host to members of Ogun House of Assembly Committee on Information, Culture and Tourism during their oversight visit, NaijaAgroNet reports.

NaijaAgroNet learnt from Awolana that the corporation had about 25 acres of land at Ijebu-Itele in the Odogbolu Local Government Area of the state which it wants to turn into cassava plantation so that the Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) of the corporation can improve.

``We already have a building we want to turn into cassava processing factory, where we can extract starch and do some garri and repackage them in a very attractive way. So, we are talking of a cassava revolution and talking with some packaging companies that can do the business with us. We are soliciting for fund allocation in this regard." he said.

The House of Assembly Committee Chairman, Mr Olayiwola Ojodu said the visit was to ascertain the extent of progress made so far by the corporation and assured it of the House of Assembly support to ensure that its situation improved.

*with additional report from NAN

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