Nigeria: Dogara – Agriculture Panacea To High Unemployment

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, said the agriculture sector has the potential to solve the country’s high unemployment rate.

He said between 40 million and 70 million jobs could be created in the sector by empowering small farmers in large numbers across the country.

Speaking when he visited Premier Seeds Nigeria Limited in Zaria, Kaduna State, the speaker further expressed strong belief that with coordinated support from the executive and the legislature for companies that produce and distribute high breed seeds to farmers, the country would become sufficient in food as well as improve living standards of citizens.

He said: “Agriculture has the potential of being the highest employer of labour in this country. If we have small farms springing up across the nation employing from 20 to 25 people, you can imagine if we could have 1 million of those ventures between 40 to 70 million jobs… that could save us a lot of problems in this country and help deal with many issues of insecurity, violence among others.”

Dogara also said if the much desired revolution in the sector was to be achieved, the production and distribution of quality seeds must be given priority attention.