Stakeholders in the agriculture sector have called on government at all levels and the private sector to establish and fund more incubation centres to train youths and women engaged in agriculture.
This is contained in a communiqué released at the end of the UNDP Agribusiness Supplier Development Programme (ASDP) Roundtable on Cassava Value Chain in Lagos on Wednesday.
The communiqué stated that setting up more incubation centres especially in the rural areas would help to empower and boost agricultural production.
They appealed to government at all levels to facilitate land acquisition and development to increase investment and interests in agriculture.
It said that lower single digit interest rates should be also be facilitated through appropriate government policies to encourage more people to embrace agriculture.
According to the statement, banks and other relevant agencies should be involved in government’s fiscal policy formulations and reforms from the onset to avoid faulty implementation.
“Existing farm roads should be rehabilitated and new ones constructed to enable timely transportation of produce to and from farms.
“Capacity development for farmers, technicians, operators should be encouraged at regular intervals to enhance productivity.
“Grazing ranches at appropriate locations should be established for herdsmen to check the destruction of farmlands.
“The government should fast track the training of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to provide security for the grazing reserves,’’ it said.
The communiqué also called on the government to encourage research institutions to intensify efforts in the development of longer shelf life cassava varieties to check wastage.