The Federal Government has come out to say that a lot of opportunities abounded in the agricultural sector as over 56 per cent of available agricultural land are still not in use.

The minister recently had his say while speaking to the press, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, Nigeria is blessed with a total of 79million hectares of agricultural land with only 44% being cultivated, and the nation also has 267 billion cubic meters of fresh surface water and 58 billion cubic meters of underground water, with 37 billion cubic meters only stored in dams.

He added that the new framework of the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy will do all it takes to modernize the agricultural sector in line with changing global food systems and supply chains.

His words, “Nigeria is endowed with a total of 79million hectares of agricultural land with only 44% being cultivated. The nation also has 267 billion cubic meters of fresh surface water and 58 billion cubic meters of underground water, with 37 billion cubic meters only stored in dams. Annual rainfall in the country is within 300mm to 4,000mm. Conversely, potential irrigable area is about 3.14 million hectares with less than 7% utilised presently.”

“This is being guided by the new framework of the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy, 2022-2027, launched in August 2022, which seeks to modernize the agricultural sector in line with changing global food systems and supply chains.”

“Actually, NATIP is the Ministry’s response to the present Administration Agenda of diversifying the nation’s economy from petroleum oil-based to Agriculture and solid minerals. The document serves as successor policy of the Agricultural Promotion Policy, 2016-2020, with a view to developing priority value chains on the basis of comparative ecological advantage across crops, livestock and fisheries sub-sectors in collaboration with the States Government.”

“In pursuant of our mandate of ensuring food security, employment generation and wealth creation in the country, the Ministry is committed to supporting the establishment of over 100 processing centres in the rural communities across the nation under the Green Imperative Project of a private-driven mechanization programme.”