The Chairman of Shine Bridge Global Inc., USA, and an agribusiness specialist, Dr Tony Bello, have tasked the Federal Government with ensuring that those issued licences to import food into the country must invest the equivalent amount spent on the importation in local food production.
Dr Bello, who stated this in a recent interview with Arise Television, emphasised that importers must prove to the leadership of the country their non-negotiable commitment and investment in the local production equivalent given to them.
The former Senior Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, cautioned, however, that this move will be counterproductive if the waiver is given to politicians, their friends, and their families.
“If the government must issue food import licences, it must do so by ensuring the commitment of importers to immediately invest in local production of equivalent amounts of the food imports.
“Nigeria will go extremely hungry if the emergency food import directive is given to politicians, friends, and family.
“The importers must prove to leadership their non-negotiable commitment and investment in the local production equivalent given to them. Financial guarantee instruments must be put in place,” Dr Bello said.
He said there are a few opportunities for the government to partner with proven commercial farmers and food processors, especially in the areas of cassava, wheat, soybean, and maize production and processing.
The agribusiness expert said these are a few examples of engagement of the private sector through structured collaboration and partnerships with subject matter experts and practitioners.
He said the future of Nigeria’s agriculture is bright if the government engages proven private sector practitioners and professionals.
“Mr President must now focus on targeted investments in food innovation and repositioning policy reforms towards local staples and not food imports.
“The tools are there for the government to take advantage of food innovation and private sector engagement sooner than later,” he noted.
“I trust that Mr President is listening to the voices of technocrats and subject matter experts on shoring up food production, processing, and manufacturing from home-grown staple foods such as cassava, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, and maize (corn).
“Mr President must address head-on some of the root causes of hunger in the land today, such as farmer insecurity, high interest rates, youth unemployment, and climate change. There’s seed time and harvest time. But there cannot be a harvest if we do not sow.
The urgent need for incentivizing the private sector and recognising that farmers are the largest private sector group in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised at this juncture.
“The government must now effectively communicate and clarify to Nigerians what is happening behind closed doors with private sector engagement in both policy reforms and implementation,” Dr Bello added.
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