The permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, has said that investment in agribusiness and agritourism would strengthen food security in the country.
Umakhihe stated this Friday in Abuja at the international Agribusiness and Agritourism Investment Forum.
The permanent secretary was represented by Mr Adebiyi Michael, Director, Agribusiness and Market Development in the ministry.
He said that agritourism enhances the tourism industry by increasing the number of visitors to the area.
“Agritourism also provides communities with the potential to increase their local tax bases and new employment opportunities.
“Additionally, agritourism provides educational opportunities to the public, helps to preserve agricultural lands, and allows states to develop business enterprises,” he said.
He said the federal government has designed agricultural investment incentives to support high level private sector participation.
“While some of these incentives are in the form of tax holidays, exemptions and reliefs, there are some that leverage specific policies,” he said.
Umakhihe restated the ministrys commitment in working with relevant stakeholders to build an agricultural and agribusiness economy capable of sustaining the countrys economy.
“I have no doubt that this forum will spur agricultural production which will ultimately contribute to growth and transformation in the nation`s economy,” he said.
In his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, who was represented by a deputy director in his office, Mr. Okokon Etoabasi, urged security agencies to come up with strategies to make the initiative a success.
Also speaking, the Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Masudur Rahman, described the initiative by the government of Nigeria as “noble.”
According to him, “This synergy will help if Nigeria and Bangladesh collaborate and both countries will benefit immensely.”
On the 50 hectares of land given to Bangladesh, he said his country would ensure that both countries benefited in terms of job creation, rural development and human resource development.
Also speaking, the president, World Agritourism Organisation (WAO), Mr. Henry Ogboi, said the organisation had allocated some hectares to government agencies and the government of Bangladesh.
He said that was to hasten the development of the 200 hectares of Nigerian Agritourism village project situated in Ibadan, Oyo state.
Ogboi said the project would be centred on farm estate, improved machinery, mechanised farming, and industrial hubs among others.
