The Managing Director/CEO of the Nigerian Farmers Group and Cooperative Society (NFGCS) Mr. Retson Tedheke has declared that the foundation for real food security is in real investments in agricultural productivity.
Speaking against the backdrop that the Federal government recently made Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of nations by going cap in hand to war-ravaged Ukraine for food assistance, he said if the government had invested in the sector there would have been no room for the anomaly
Ukraine donated 25,000 tonnes of wheat as emergency food assistance to 1.3 million vulnerable, crisis-affected people in northeast Nigeria.
He spoke on Thursday at the launch of a new blockchain, Agbatoken, to revolutionalise agriculture in Nigeria at NFGCS Farm Estate, in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Speaking from experience, the chairman said, “Since 2017 when he started the Nigeria Farmers Group and Cooperative Society, it has been one battle after the other and one challenge after the other because of the lack of government support.
Explaining further he said, getting the right blend of funding that is patient enough for Agricultural Productivity has been the greatest nightmare for farmers.
“Getting the right partners that are patient enough to understand that Agricultural Productivity is not All about Profit but Good Security for Socio Economic Stability and Cultural Solidity.
Tedheke said it is in the best interest of the Nigerian government to expand the Vision to Utilize the Massive Opportunities available in Rural Nigeria and making Nigeria work for all of Nigeria.
He also admonished on the need to creat the generational shift that can lead to Urban Rural Migration focused on creating the avenue for Rural Industrialization and National Security.
“Make sure that the many problems of the Nigeria Commercial farmers and those of the Smailholder Farmers become the Main Issues in Policy Initiatives and Programs of Government which are Necessary for real job creation
“The Federal and State Governments must focus on the Real Issues affecting Agricultural Productivity not pay lipservice to what is an impending epidemic if Nigeria does nothing about Localized Food Production.
“As we gather here today, united in our battles, and commitment to food security, Socio Stability and technological innovation, we stand on the precipice of a transformative shift that will shape the future of farming for generations to come in Nigeria, Africa and The World.
“Retson explained that though the current landscape of blockchain in agriculture blockchain technology is still relatively new to the agricultural industry, but it is already making great strides.
“The Blockchain in the Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Market Size is valued at $285Million in 2022 and is predicted to reach $7.3billion Million by the year 2031. This is an astounding growth, and for proponents of blockchain technology, it is extremely exciting.”
