Evolve policies that encourage local production, NGE urges FG

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have maintained that Agriculture remains the most viable option to revive the nation’s economy, calling on the Federal Government to urgently evolve policies that will protect local farmers against influx of foreign agricultural products and encourage local production.

Contained in a communiqué signed by the guild’s President, Funke Egbemode and the General Secretary, Victoria Ibang, at the end of the 12th All Nigerian Editors’ Conference, on Sunday, the editors of media houses held that agriculture would help engage unemployed youths and improve the state of the nation’s economy.

The guild decried the continued neglect of real focus on agriculture owing to negative mindset of Nigerians, reliance on outdated methods and gross underfunding of the sector, emphasising the critical role of the media in redirecting Nigerians, especially the youth, towards embracing modern and technology-driven agriculture.

In addition, the guild urged the Federal Government to immediately recapitalise and make the Bank of Agriculture and other relevant agricultural programmes functional as well as strengthen the operation of farmers’ co-operative societies.

At the state level, NGE urged state governments to collaborate in the areas of agricultural production and processing.