The Chairman, Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association of Nigeria, (FACAN), Mr. Howard Usen has posited that the best way to mitigate climate change and promote the capacity to employ thousands and millions is investment in Agro Sub Sector of the economy.
Usen made the assertion during an interactive session with journalists in Uyo, on the planned third Agribusiness Roundtable International Conference, scheduled for October 27 to 29 at Ibom Icon Hotels and Gulf Resort, Akwa Ibom State.
His words, “If you want to mitigate climate change, the best solution is agriculture. If you ask anywhere today, when you hear of climate change, you hear of weather, poverty, the only sector that has the capacity to employ thousands and millions is the agro-subsector.
“I think two years ago, we looked at how much Spain made from Agriculture; Spain is a small country, smaller than the size of Niger State, but while we are celebrating making $60 billion in oil, Spain makes like $150 billion in agriculture. That’s just one sector.
“And sometimes when you talk to people about oil, they tell you that our oil will last a lifetime. And I always explain that; the stone age did not come to an end because stone had finished but when there were several alternative uses more than stone. Instead of going for stone, I can go for plastic. I can go for steel. When the cost of bringing out stone is so high that the profit margin is less, people go for alternative uses”. Usen explained.
He said the proposed event is the third Agribusiness Roundtable Conference organized by the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industrial Development Initiative, Federation of Agricultural Communities of Nigeria, FACAN, and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in recent times.
With the theme: ‘Unlocking Agribusiness Potentials for Economic Sustainability’ Usen said the focus of the conference is to look at and harness opportunities in agro sub-sector in Nigeria.
“What are the opportunities? How can we look at the value chain development in say; cassava? Today, Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the entire world, but most of the people that are producing cassava do it just for food and dairy. They don’t look at the ethanol aspect of it. They don’t look at the chips and other proceeds.
“Even when they look at the chips, the way they do the chips is different. You cut the chips and dry it on the roadside with all the dust and the sand. So, there’s a need for us to build a knowledge sector.”
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