By Philip Osunsami
The Nigeria Agribusiness Group {NABG}, supported byÂInnovation Lab for Policy Leadership in Agriculture and Food Security {PiLAF},Âin collaboration with DAWN Commission has organised a two-day regional agribusiness sensitisation for farmers in the Southwest.
The programme, which took place at Adis Hotel, New Bodija, Ibadan, attracted stakeholders in agriculture and business sectors.
The stakeholders included members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), officers of the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, farmers and others.
Speaking virtually, the President of NABG, Arc. Kabir Ibrahim said the body was concerned with the farmers getting values for what they produce.
Ibrahim  said: ‘’This is the continuation of the programme that the NABG has been pursuing over several months. We have had workshops in various places and we intend to do a lot more in three selected geo-political zones. We intend to sensitise the smallholder producers or small holder farmers as to the possibilities in agribusiness by sensitising them to the need to standardise their products for marketability, to also do climate-smart agriculture, to use good agricultural practices in all their production to be able to export whatever they produce and making the whole country quite comfortable.
‘’It is important for them to recognise all these possibilities. It is incumbent on us to know that there is a policy guideline on seeds, fertilizers and soil that we need to adhere to in order to make what we do successful.
‘’I urge you to produce by asking questions and getting good   essential services so that whatever we produce will have the value added that is necessary for marketability.
‘’The NABG is concerned with their products. It is only now that the farmers are getting values for what they produce. But if you go outside people are crying over food prices hike but farmers are naturally happy that they are getting the best from their hard work. I urge you to guard this jealously and produce wholesome food for Nigeria so that our children will be healthy and we will be able to add value to nation building’’.
The Head of Economic Development and Research of DAWN Commission, Dr. Adesoji  Farayibi, represented the  Director-General,  Dr. Seye Oyeleye.
Oyeleye said agriculture remains the backbone of our economy and the policies we put in place today will determine the future of the vital sector.
Oyeleye said: ‘’ I commend the Nigerian Agribusiness Group (NABG) and PiLAF for their commitment to advancing the agribusiness sector in Nigeria. As a commission dedicated to development, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing Agribusiness, particularly within the Southwest region in collaboration with the Commissioners for Agriculture in each state and various stakeholders in the region’’.
On his part, the Director-General of NABG, Jafar Umar said it was imperative to take  agriculture seriously in order to ensure food security for the country.
He disclosed that NABG has been working at the policy environment with several partners for the actualisation of food sufficiency.
In his remarks,  Dr. Benjamin Oyelami of PiLAF, University of Ibadan, called on the government to address insecurity,  prepare for climate change, make room for irrigation and support agriculture very well and research to guarantee food security.
Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, represented by the Deputy Director, Planning ,Research and Statistics Department of the ministry, Mrs. Funke Adeniran-Adediran, called for partnership with private investors to get higher agricultural yields.
The commissioner said: ‘’I will like to inform you that the present administration is keenly interested in the development of Agriculture through direct funding, counterpart funding and private investment but government cannot do it all alone, therefore the administration believes  strongly in partnership arrangement, strategies with private sectors and diasporas people and good working relationships with interested investors’’.
In her remarks, the Secretary-General of NABG, Mrs. Olubukola Nwaneri said the new oil is agriculture.