Those Condemning Our Yam Exporting Scheme Lack Full Knowledge -Audu Ogbeh

Minister for Agriculture preentee with a gift by AFAN Osun state chapter

The minister for agriculture Audu Ogbeh has come down hard on those condemning the agricultural exporting drive of the federal government based on the argument that there will be food shortage in Nigeria if those produced are being exported.

The minister while speaking in Osogbo at a consultative session with Osun farmers said the basic logic in the exporting Yam and other agricultural produce is that if there is demand either for local consumption or export, the basic point is to produce more.

"If you are exporting and there is demand, then produce more, one tuber of yam in the U.S costs 15 dollars which is just 600 Naira back home, we will make sure that Nigerians dont go hungry in the name of exportation", Audu Ogbeh said.

Answering questions from farmers, the minister promised that there will be spread of agricultural processing machines across villages in the country to help women in processing.

"For the youths, machineries will be made available to make farming easy and attractive",warning that tractors must be used judiciously and for the purpose which is being distributed for.

The Agric minister also said efforts are on e  to be bring interest rates down as low as five percent and seeks supports from farmers to lobby for interest Rate to come down.

"Farm settlements will be revived as it is the best way to put inputs that can be managed jointly. It will cost some money but we have gotten commitment and we ask our youths to make use of these settlements when they are finally in place.Once roads are open to the farm settlements, big people will have easy access to the food and there will be small processing factories that will make buyers buy almost ready made food. This will be done as we promise to find markets for produce in Nigeria and outside."


The minister disclosed that efforts are now in top gear to have a branch of bank of agriculture in each local government areas of the country.