By Wuraola OyedokunÂ
The Archbishop Ibadan Archdiocese, Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin has called on the Nigerian government both at the federal, state and local government level to prioritise the deliberate funding of the agricultural sector and human-centered policies that will make the sector thrive as it ought to be.
Abegunrin gave this charge in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, while speaking at the 15th annual farmers’ forum organised by the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC).
The cleric noted that it’s time for the government to be proactive and deliberate about its action with regard to the agricultural sector, adding that focus should be given to making the sector much more lucrative for existing and prospective youth who intend to venture into agriculture.
The Archbishop said agriculture should be seen as the number one, saying no matter how much money one has no one can live without food.
”We must be serious about agriculture by funding  agriculture the same way we are funding education, because that’s our livelihood, that’s how we live, that’s where we get good energy, that’s how we can be happy, that’s how families can come together and how children can grow up with good brain because of good food for sustainable therefore agriculture is paramount, so they should invest a lot in agriculture just like education”, he said.
The Chairman Sustainable Farmers Association of Nigeria, Southwest zone, Mr Matthew Ogunmodede while speaking about the challenges of farmers aligned his views with the cleric calling on the government to implement policies that will favor farmers across Nigeria and also provide rural infrastructures to aid good yield for farmers.
While the programme head, integrated development programme at the Commission, Ogunbosoye Akinsola-Alaba pleaded with the government to find a lasting solution to the issue of insecurity and climate change which remains a big challenge affecting the sector, he called on farmers to upgrade their knowledge as regards smart farming.
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