National Agricultural Show begins next week, says NAFN

By Mohammed Kandi

The National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN) and organizer of National Agricultural Show, has announced that the 2014 edition of the Show will commence next week Monday.

NAFN, a non-governmental organization, also disclosed that participants would be allowed to showcase any bush meet following the recent incident of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which Nigeria experienced but was later declared EVD-free.

Chairman, Board of Trustees of NAFN, Sen. AbdullahiAdamu, who gave the announcement, noted that the Show was becoming institutionalized annual event, just like the Royal Agric Show in the United Kingdom, which began 155 years ago.

“This year’s show will be 8th edition, and as usual, it will hold from the 12th to 16th of this month, at the permanent show ground, situated at kilometer 28, along Abuja-Keffiroad, Tudun Wada, Karu local government area, Nasarawa state”, Adamu stated, describing the theme of the event: “Investing in Agriculture: Imperative for Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security, Job Creation and Poverty Reduction”, as appropriate.

Represented by the National Coordinator of NAFN, Dr. Samuel Negedu, Sen. Adamu also informed that in organizing the yearly event, the foundation was collaborating with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Sen. Adamu, who noted that the foundation was not in any way in competition with any stakeholder in the sector, however said, “Rather, we see ourselves as partners in progress with any organization, body or stakeholder genuinely interested in and making efforts to move our agriculture forward.”

The chairman, who described the country’s agriculture sector as “grossly underdeveloped”, recalled that “the sector contributes 40% to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), accounts for 6% of our foreign exchange earnings.”

He therefore lauded the on-going agricultural transformation agenda of the federal government, saying “Our foundation is in full support of this agenda, and we have in fact been working to see its success.”