By George George Idowu
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has emphasised the need for innovation in agriculture to ensure food security, economic growth, and sustainability.
He made this known while delivering his speech during the three-day Business of Agriculture Masterclass 2024 held recently with the theme: “Cultivating a Rich Future through Agriculture” organised by Cluster 5 of the Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG), in partnership with the British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) Foundation and the BusinessDay Foundation.
He praised the private sector and international organizations for their commitment to advancing agriculture, noting, “The future of the sector depends on transitioning from traditional farming practices to innovative approaches.”
The masterclass aimed to equip agricultural entrepreneurs with the tools and strategies needed to turn agriculture into a profitable and sustainable business.
It featured 10 expert-led sessions covering topics such as crop production, agri-finance, agro-processing, animal husbandry, and agricultural technology.
The opening session, titled “Planting the Seeds of Innovation: Opening the Pathway to Agricultural Transformation,” set the tone for discussions on adopting innovative solutions to unlock Nigeria’s agricultural potential.
Other notable sessions included the Business of Crop Production, focused on improving crop yields through modern farming techniques amongst others.
Dr. Mories Atoki, Co-chair of UN PSAG Cluster 5, highlighted the central role of innovation in transforming agriculture.
She called for a data-driven approach to optimise agricultural value chains, stating, “Innovation is the seed from which transformative changes occur.”
She also emphasised the need for investment models that attract global interest while managing risks.
Oludare Odusanya, General Manager of the BATN Foundation, reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to empowering rural communities and supporting sustainable agricultural practices.
He noted that for over 20 years, the BATN Foundation has helped smallholder farmers, contributing to poverty reduction and the achievement of multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He urged participants to use the insights gained from the masterclass to transform agriculture into a thriving business.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment to advancing Nigeria’s agricultural sector through innovation, technology, and sustainable practices.
Participants were encouraged to leverage the knowledge gained to build profitable agricultural businesses that contribute to economic growth, food security, and environmental sustainability.