An expert in agricultural extension, Prof. Olufemi Martins Adesope, has said there is inadequate funding by government of the agricultural sector in Nigeria and called for improvement.
Prof. Martins Adesope also said that the government was not sensitizing the people enough about agriculture.
The expert in agricultural extension who was a guest on Small-Scale Enterprises and Start-ups on Nigeria Info 92.3FM said that the government was also not doing enough to fund agricultural researchers.
He said agricultural researchers should be encouraged with funding to enable them make positive contribution in the agricultural sector.
Prof. Martins Adesope who is professor of agricultural extension in University of Port- Harcourt said that mechanized farming was also poor in Nigeria.
He said that it was government’s responsibility to provide the enabling environment for agricultural farmers and farmers would do the rest with the enabling environment.
Speaking on Rivers State, the expert in agricultural extension said most of the food consumed in the state comes from outside the state.
He appealed to small-scale farmers to form themselves into groups to enable them access loans and other facilities.
He however said farmers also sometimes misuse loans they had obtained for agricultural purpose.
The programme which aired on Wednesday centred on ensuring food security in the country in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.
