The Federal Government on Friday inaugurated a six year National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) from 2022 to 2027 to guide and enhance agribusiness undertakings in the country.
NATIP is a six- year national agricultural policy strategy aimed at sustainable development of national technological and innovative capacity to fast track import substitution.
This is with particular emphasis on the reduction of rice, diary and fish imports, increased resilience and digital agriculture, thereby promoting high potential value chains and agricultural investments.
Speaking at the inauguration of the document, in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, said this was in response to the present administration’s agenda at diversifying the nation’s economy.
” This is a response to the present administration agenda of diversifying the nation’s economy from petroleum oil- based to agriculture and solid minerals-driven national development strategy,” he said.
Abubakar said that it is on record that the ministry’s operation over the last six years had been shaped by the Agricultural Promotion Policy of 2016-2020.
” This framework facilitated appreciable increase in agricultural production and job creation through infrastructure, research, extension, mechanisation, and value chain activities in the country.
” While the ministry sustained all various initiative for the development of the agriculture sector, the issue of embracing technology and innovation becomes inevitable for transforming the nation’s agricultural system,” he said.
Abubakar said this would empower small- scale farmers to adopt new technologies and best practices for an enhanced production, processing of agricultural commodities for local consumption and export to other countries.
He said the focus of the new NATIP 2022- 2027 was premised on the 10 thematic areas of Stakeholders’ Synergy and Alignment, Knowledge Creation and Transfer, Rapid Mechanisation, and Agricultural Development Fund Establishment.
“Others are, Extension Service Delivery Revitilisation and Livestock Development, Priority Crop Value Chain Strengthening, Fisheries and Aquaculture.
“Also included Marine and Inland Fisheries Development, Market Development, and Agriculture Lands Investments Partnership,” he said.
In his goodwill message, Dr Bedru Balana, Country Programme Leader, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), called for the mainstreaming of women and youth across the agricultural value chains, within the framework of innovation and enterprises.
“This is crucial as Nigeria continues to focus on creating jobs through agriculture for its growing youth and vulnerable population in the face of the current economic and environmental sectors, and climate shocks among others,” he said.
Also, Sarah Werth, Deputy Country Mission Director, USAID, said that agriculture was strategically important to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy.
