By Jimoh Babatunde

The Agriculture Transformation Action Plan for Nigeria (ATAP) presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina to the President and the Economic Management Team recently has been described as a good policy paper that will turn around the sector.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive at Syngenta Nigeria, Emmanuel Ajayi, who made this assertion in a chat with Vanguard   weekend, said the plan as presented by the minister is all inclusive.

“This action plan is different from what we had in the past as it is expansive; it took a critical look at where we are coming from, where we are going and how we intend to get there.”

Ajayi  said the plans tells us  what we will achieve  and what to obtain at each point of execution, ‘just as it looks at the issue of  land use act as well as the role of the state and local governments in  agricultural development.”

The agro economist added that the action plans intends to treat agriculture as a business and not developmental project, this to him will end the era of isolated projects without a strategic focus to drive agricultural growth and food security in a clear measurable way.

Ajayi explained that the action plan has identified five crops, rice; cassava; sorghum; cocoa and cotton, as deserving attention now. The production of these crops, according to him, will generate employment in the country as there are plans to develop the value chains of agriculture, “the value chain approach will allow the country to make all the complementary investment needed from production to market and ensure that we add value to all our commodities.”

Speaking on the World Food Day, Ajayi said Food security is national security that he is not happy as a Nigerian going to bed and knowing that there are some Nigerians who are going to bed without food.

“The government needs to have strong political will beyond policies to drive agriculture in the country. I will want to see government pursue agriculture development like they pursue political electioneering.”

He added that the government needs to pay more attention to rural development through provision of rural infrastructure, “with development in rural areas, many youth will stay back instead of becoming Okada riders in the cities.”