Nigeria’s Power Minister, Bayo Adelabu says the country’s energy sector is key to transforming the agricultural industry and ensure it reaches its full potential.
Adelabu, who stated this while speaking at the 1st socio-economic summit organized by the Jericho businessmen Club on Saturday, noted that the country is too blessed to be grappling with food scarcity or poor agricultural output.
“When we talk about agriculture, we are not just talking about self-sufficiency, it goes beyond that. Now, agriculture is a major source of foreign exchange earning for most countries that believe in it. Not just farming alone. We should also be looking at how we would mechanize our agricultural industry.
“Energy and Power is very key to acheiveing all of this. We must see how we can partner to have the required electricity to power the agricultural industry. We can’t realize the full potential of our resources unless they are energized.
“Before now, we have been using a top-down approach, focusing on generation alone. What we are trying to do now is embrace a bottom-up approach. The meter gap we have in households is over 30 million. Without that, you can’t measure. If you can’t measure, you can’t pay. If you can’t pay, you can’t connect. We must reduce the meter gap in our society and improve the value chain,” the Ibadan-born politician was quoted saying.
Earlier in her address, the keynote Speaker at the summit, Yemisi Iranloye, explained that the country must embrace an inclusive agricultural value chain to explain true development in sector in Nigeria.
She stated this in her presentation on the topic: Driving agricultural transformation in Oyo state through an inclusive agricultural value chain for sustainable development
“The cradle of agricultural transformation is rooted in rural areas, fostering socio-economic development. Hence, there must be a pragmatic, intentional, purposeful plan to develop those areas, anything else is lip-service.”
“The farming method that will take Oyo State to the next level must involve smallholder farmers and every other person involved in the value chain,” she said.
Speaking further, she noted that access to finance, access to the latest agricultural development, and technological resources are some of the things that must be worked on to bolster the sector.
“There are varieties of Cassava for instance that are not available to smallholder farmers. If we don’t do this agriculture will never be truly rewarding to them.
“We must also work to create access to the market because there are farmers today who still make a lot of losses because they don’t have this,” she added.
