Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Kwara state on Wednesday trained 45 officers drawn across ministries, departments and agencies under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) on management of agricultural commodity value chain for agribusiness.
Speaking during the five- day training programme in Ilorin the executive director of ARMTI, Dr. Olufemi Oladunni, who was represented by head of Finance department of the institute, Mr. Moses Ibitoye, stressed the need to maximize wealth in agriculture
“It is not only in industries you maximize wealth even in agric forum we maximize wealth. That is why they come up with commodity value chain. When you have value plus risk your wealth will increase in economy. Many people have listened to that gospel of value chain but they are still at the same point. If you are pessimistic you cannot do it.
“People have to come out of their comfort zone. That is why we still have many people unemployed around. Some of them have idea but they are unable to take risk and once you are unable to take risk you cannot venture into business. Agric is a business, so you need risk to be added along”, he said.
The ARMTI boss also expressed optimism that the training will do positive thing in their lives.
Also speaking, one of the consultant trainers, Professor Okunlola James Olaniyi, stressed the need to transform agriculture.
“What we are saying is that there is need for us to transform agriculture in Nigeria from occupation to business. When we talk about value chain we are saying for every product there must be value addition and value addition starts from the cultivation to the consumer.
“Even the way we clear our land we have to add value to it to see that it is done in appropriate way that will make the plant yield and conserve the soil. Like the seed the farmers are planting. Many farmers are planting grains not seeds. Farmers should use improved seeds that will make the plant yield better crops. Also in the process of cultivation, the way we harvest and process crops, we must add value to it in acceptable.
“When we have products that are value-added that is when we can talk about exportable product. What we produce in Nigeria mostly now we can’t export it because they are raw and below the international standard. But when there is value addition, it will reach the international standard and that is when we can now talk about exportation of agricultural product like our cassava.
“We produce cassava in Nigeria. Yes, we are one of the highest producers of cassava in the world. It has zero value because we are not converting. All over the world they change it to cheeps and other products that they are exportable. When we add value we are bringing in network of linkages that will create employment along the chain, reduce unemployment, make more money and attract people to agriculture”, he said.
He also urged participants to put what they have learnt into practice, saying that people in ADP need to reorientate farmers, youths and students to catch in on the opportunity of value addition along various products “so that they can create employment for themselves”, he said.
He also advised them to be creative and innovative in agripreneur.
End.