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The 2013 BusinessDay Conference on AgriBusiness and Food Security

Staff Writer

Agriculture is the economic mainstay of  most households in Nigeria and is a significant sector in Nigeria’s economy. The important benefits of the agricultural sector to Nigeria’s economy, the government/public sector and the private sector, cannot be over-emphasized. Therefore as individuals and as a nation we cannot afford to relegate agriculture to the background. Much of the Nigerian economy has been driven by crude oil since its discovery. The dismal performance of the agricultural sector in terms of its contribution to Nigeria’s yearly total revenue in the last three decades prompted the government to initiate several agricultural schemes and programs to enhance agricultural productivity. This necessity has also led to the recent development of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). The agenda looks at agricultural transformation across the globe and how it has led to dramatic reductions in poverty, for example in China, Vietnam, Brazil and Thailand. Investments in the Agricultural sector also developed rural communities that in turn significantly reduced rural-urban migration. Malawi and Kenya are examples of African countries that have undergone agricultural transformation. The Ministry’s vision according to the Minister is to grow Nigeria’s agricultural sector to, “achieve a hunger-free Nigeria through an agricultural sector that drives income growth, accelerates achievement of food and nutritional security, generates employment and transforms Nigeria into a leading player in global food markets to grow wealth for millions of farmers and all other investors across the agricultural value chains.” In this vein, BusinessDay, the leading national business daily will be holding a one-day forum to explore extensively how the public and private sector can tap into the huge opportunities inherent in this fast growing sector. The Theme is ‘Turning Agro-value Chain Potentials into Profit’: As part of the overall agricultural transformation agenda therefore, agriculture is now being focused on as a frontline business. Analysts have agreed that the agriculture sector value-chain holds tremendous potentials capable of attracting huge foreign direct investments. And, if well harnessed, will guarantee food security for the nation, create millions of jobs, increase production of agricultural raw materials to meet the needs of our expanding industrial sector and export market, enhance farmers’ income and reducing poverty. The big question then remains: what are the next practical steps that both government and the private sector must take to turn the huge potentials in agro production, processing, retailing and logistics into profit to create jobs, reduce poverty, create a vibrant real sector, increase economic activity, and improve quality of life; increase exports and foreign exchange earnings? This is where the BusinessDay Agribusiness & Food Security Summit comes in. The Conference will focus on identifying solutions that can help agricultural value chain in developing and transforming the sector to provide new income opportunities for all its stakeholders and guarantee expanded and assured markets for their products. It will serve as a catalyst for the thinking of new methods and approaches, partnerships and collaborations that will help deliver practical solutions that will guarantee food security and improved export earnings for the nation. Conference Objectives Who to Expect: Government officials, Policy Makers, State Commissioners’ of Agriculture, farmers cooperatives, banks, retailers, agricultural equipment maker and marketers, Large and Small to Medium scale Companies involved in the various Value Chain Processes of the Agricultural Sector, Economists, Researchers, Academicians, Potential investors, e.tc What to Expect: Speakers will share their insights on how investing in Agricultural sector is important and very beneficial for investors in the sector. Excellent workshops will allow participants explore a holistic view of the agribusiness, thinking outside the box, and taking bold steps to improve lives in these tough economic times. The conference will also serve as a platform to help shape policy within the Agricultural sector. Sub-Themes to be addressed at the Seminar: There will be a close and general overview on the Agriculture sector and will include sessions on: This session will examine how to grow more food, create more jobs and guarantee food security and nutrition. It will also focus on the challenges and solutions to increased food production and income for farmers. How the government can at all levels and the international community create an environment that enhances more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable private investment in agriculture. What particular investment and policy strategy will enable the development and widespread adoption of new solutions in the sector and guarantee returns on investment? On this subtheme, there will be discussions on subjects such as: What are the key interventions that need to take place at the farm level? Factors that affect production ranging from the size and quality of land owned or rented, weather, markets, market information; access to inputs to the support services and capital, infrastructure and time made available to tend to fields or animals, What new technologies and support systems must be provided by different sectors in a complementary mode for the Agricultural sector? How do we encourage more private businesses to go into processing and contribute to the profitability of agro value – chain? Export in the Agricultural sector has been a major boost for the sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP. This session will examine issues around what incentives can be created to encourage farmers and exporters to add value to their local produce so as to command better international prices. How to use the Export Expansion Grant to increase export and the revenue it generates and policies government should be in place to reduce the challenges faced by exporters and make export business even more lucrative for private investors? Financing and access to finance in the Agricultural sector as it touches every part of the value-chain process will be examined. At the Summit, there would be insightful input from the Central Bank of Nigeria on NISRAL, banks and international financial institutions on the Financing options available to the sector across the value – chain. Interested organisations can participate as sponsors in any of the categories as follows: As a sponsors of the roundtable,  organizations will enjoy the following benefits among others: Gold Sponsor Sponsorship Value: Silver Sponsor Sponsorship Value:  Bronze Sponsor Sponsorship Value:  Conference Details: Date: July, 25th, 2013 Venue: The Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. Time: 10:00am For first line contact on this, call 08034019000, Amadi Iheukwumere on 07082256051 and Adebusola on 08176735693, or email: amadi [at] businessdayonline.com and adebusola [at] businessdayonline.com
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