The Federal Government says it is using agrotourism to diversify rural economies, create jobs, attract investment and strengthen food security.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said this on Thursday at the International Agrotourism Investment Stakeholders’ Forum in Abuja, where the Nigerian International Agrotourism Village project in Karshi South, FCT, was unveiled.
The statement signed by Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Head, Department of Information, FMAFS said Kyari represented by the Director, Agribusiness and Market Development, Ayodele Olawumi, noted that the initiative was designed to move the government’s policies from speeches to concrete action.
The minister said, ‘’the forum with the theme From Policy to Implementation: Advancing Agrotourism for Food Security, Job Creation, Global Investment for Economic Diversification and Sustained Growth, underscores the administration’s resolve to move beyond speeches into concrete action’’.
He said integrating agriculture with tourism would diversify rural incomes, reduce dependence on oil and showcase Nigeria’s cultural heritage, landscapes and farming practices.
Kyari identified the International Agrotourism Village as a model for integrating agribusiness, hospitality and cultural tourism, saying it would feature farm estates, processing facilities, training institutions, eco-lodges and cultural centres.
According to him, the facilities would support climate-smart agriculture, value addition and skills development while creating jobs in farming, hospitality, logistics and the creative industry.
He added that the project would attract domestic and foreign investment, increase foreign exchange earnings and give rural households access to skills, markets and infrastructure.
Kyari also said the village could provide the foundation for establishing the World Agrotourism Organization in Nigeria, which he said would help set global standards for sustainable agrotourism.
He said the ministry was strengthening policy frameworks and promoting incentives, including tax breaks, access to land and public-private partnerships, to attract investment into the sector.
“The Village is ready. The communities are ready. Nigeria is ready. The time to invest is now,” Kyari concluded.
The Chairman, Public-Private Partnership Cooperation, World Agritourism Organization, Prof. Edwin Ozuzu, said the initiative was intended to mobilise investment and begin coordinated execution of projects with measurable socio-economic benefits.
Ozuzu said, ‘’one of the flagship initiatives before us is the Nigerian Flagship Agritourism Village project to be developed across the States of the Federation. This visionary project will integrate modern agriculture, tourism infrastructure, agro processing industries, research and innovation centers, investment parks, training institutions, hospitality facilities, cultural heritage centers and rural enterprise development ‘’.
The President of the World Agritourism Organization, Amb. Arc. Trust Henry Ogboi, said the unveiling marked the launch of the Nigerian International Agritourism Village Project at Karshi South, Abuja.
He said the 40-hectare project would accommodate government liaison centres, private-sector investment, farm estates and other integrated agrotourism value-chain developments.
Ogboi added that the programme complements proposed projects, including the World Agritourism Centre in Obi Local Government Area of Benue State and other agrotourism developments nationwide.
The event featured the unveiling of the Nigerian International Agritourism Village Project at Karshi South, FCT, Abuja.