NACCIMA, FG partner on agricultural development

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) have revealed its readiness to work with the Federal Government in the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020 through agriculture development.

National President of NACCIMA, Iyalode Alaba Lawson made this known at the monthly forum organised by the Nigerian Association of Agricultural Journalists (NAAJ) in partnership with Dizengoff Nigeria and Friesland Wamco Campina recently in Lagos.

National President who was represented at the forum by Chairman of Export Action Group NEXAG, Dr. Ade Adefeko, said that the venture was borne out of the two clear strategies under its agriculture programme.

“Going forward, the Association (NACCIMA) aims to work closely with the Federal Government in the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 2017-2020 which has laid out two clear strategies under its Agriculture programme”, she said.

Lawson added that the decision of the association to work with FG include government’s strategies of boosting productivity of the agriculture sector as well as the use of irrigable land and river basin infrastructure effectively to enable year-round agricultural production.

She maintained that in partnering with the government on the successful implementation of the ERGP, the association would engage the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) involved.

According to her, “despite the negative growth rate of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Agricultural sector had shown consistent growth since the third quarter of 2106.

Giving the statistics, the NACCIMA boss said the growth rate of agriculture in the third quarter of 2016 increased by 4.54 percent while it recorded 4.03 percent by the last quarter of the year under review.

However, in first quarter of 2017, she said it increased by 3.3 percent saying it was an indication of steady growth within the sector.

“These are in line with overall goal of the Association to pursue government-supported, private-sector-driven agriculture-value-chain development, to make agriculture more productive, efficient and competitive and in order to provide enough quality produce for domestic consumption and export”, she stated.