An expert in agricultural business with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State, Mr John Obaniyi, ...
An expert in agricultural business with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State, Mr John Obaniyi, has said that Nigeria to overcome its numerous challenges, it must go back to agriculture.
Obaniyi disclosed this when he spoke on the topic ‘Agricbusiness opportunities along value chain’ to the 2021 Batch ‘B’ Stream II corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare Akoko, Ondo State.
He said that for Nigeria to ‘remain green with envy’, everyone must go back to farming which, according to him, technology has made easy.
“Paid employment or investment in various sectors of the economy is profitable but if you really want to be at the top and remain relevant, any sector in the agricultural world is the best place to be.
“The world population is growing in leaps and bounds on a daily basis and every one must eat. This is an indication that whatever you become in life whether, engineer, doctor, communicator, scientist, teacher, footballer, captains of Industry and career public servant, you must eat good food every blessed day,” he said.
Obaniyi said that opportunities abound in the value chain, starting with land preparation and cultivation, planting and farm management, harvesting, processing, marketing, till it got to the end-users.
“The world has gone digital and with the technology that has been made available by scientists, researchers, technologists, engineers and the allied professionals, the era of hoe and cutlass is gone for good.
“You don’t need a background in any of the branches of agriculture before you can venture into either small, medium or large scale farming as agricbusiness opportunities has made things easy and you will never be caught napping or unprepared, ” he said.
Obaniyi announced that IITA, in partnership with NYSC, was training corps members in various fields on how they could embrace the value chain in the agric-business, to boost local food production and export.
A graduate of mechanical engineering, Obaniyi said that graduate youths mobilised for national service have what it takes to revolutionise the agricultural sector for optimal economic performance.
“Your various academic qualifications have placed you in a vantage position to come out successful in whatever you lay your hands on during and after the service year.
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