The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mahmood Abubakar has harped on the importance of research to the country’s agricultural ecosystem.
He explained that adequate research-oriented innovations would drive the country’s agriculture sector forward and consequently, ensure food security.
To this end, he noted that research and innovation as a means of boosting food production, has become the priority of his administration.
Abubakar said this on Monday, at a working visit to the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), in Abuja.
He said, “Research is everything without a doubt, this is the engine of the agricultural sector and of course for any vehicle to move, it must have a good engine.
“Research is one of the key areas for me and the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
”
He also assured the ARCN of his support in fulfilling their mandate of conducting agricultural researches.
“Agriculture can make a difference, it is your responsibility to research, develop, make innovations to make Nigeria self-sufficient to be able to export anything we want through innovative researches, and ARCN and Agriculture will make that difference,” he said.
Meanwhile, the minister assured of the government’s efforts to bring down the soaring prices of foodstuff across the country.
According to him, the federal government aims to stabilise food prices through collaborations with international organizations.
On his part, the Executive Secretary, ARCN, Prof.
Garba Sharubutu assured the minister of the institute’s support in achieving a food secure nation.
Speaking on the establishment of spinoff research companies, Sharubutu noted that it was a deliberate attempt to ensure that researches were made more marketable.
“Institutes can now ensure that their innovations are multiplied and marketed to generate more funding to run their affairs.
“It is expected that this provision will enable the institutions to partner with the private sector to multiply and make technologies available to the target population,” he explained.
Research-Oriented Innovations Will Boost Nigeria’s Agriculture – Minister