The cotton sector in agriculture will soon get the necessary support from the federal government. This is with a purpose to boost the sector and ensure the creation of about 1.4 million jobs from there every year. this assurance was given by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, (FMAFS) Senator Abubakar Kyari. The minister who said this in a meeting with the Executive Director, International Cotton Advisory Committee, ICAC, Eric Trachtenberg, and other relevant stakeholders in Abuja said the government was prepared to partner with ICAC and other stakeholders to revive the country’s cotton sub-sector.
Senator Kyari, in a statement signed by the Principal Information Officer FMAFS Obe M. Mabel, revealed that the cotton ecosystem would create over “1.4 million jobs annually”, boost production and export opportunities. According to Kyari, the new development in line with the industrialisation policy of the current administration, with key focus on developing components of the cotton value chain comprising farming, weaving, ginning, and linking of cotton, among others.
He said, ‘“The challenges in the sector which discouraged farmers from cotton production to other crops would be looked into and be addressed for optimum productivity in the cotton ecosystem’’.
Kyari expressed optimism that with ICAC’s technical expertise, the Cotton sub-sector would be revived for sustainable economic growth and national development. The hope given by the minister also attracted promises from the ICAC chief. While appreciating the gesture from the minister, his guest pledged the support of the organisation for Nigeria’s cotton value chain, promising to help revamp it by offering expert advice aimed at improving productivity, boosting the value chain and facilitating investment. The areas of support from ICAC will include training of farmers and extension workers, deployment of technology and sharing innovative solutions with the stakeholders in Nigeria.
