The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill seeking to establish the Federal College of Agriculture in Abua/Odual, Rivers State, for second reading.
The Federal College of Agriculture (Establishment) Bill sponsored by Senator Betty Apiafi (PDP Rivers West) seeks to address the educational needs of the people of Rivers West Senatorial District.
According to the upper legislative chamber, the college would serve as a research and training centre for developing agriculture and agriculturists in the country.
Senator Apiafi, in her submission on the bill during plenary, said a large number of persons in her district were involved in agriculture.
She noted that the establishment of the institution would promote agriculture in Nigeria, enhance the income of farmers, yield quality agricultural products, and generate employment opportunities in the sector.
“over 80 per cent of the people in the district are involved in agriculture, hence a major reason to establish an agricultural institution to promote and enlighten the indigene and Nigerians as a whole on current best practices in the sector.”
The lawmaker said that the College of Agriculture, through agricultural education, training, research, and development, could directly impact poverty declination by increasing farm productivity and subsequent increase in the food supply, among others.
Açcording to her, “it is clear that investing in agriculture is the way forward and creating more agricultural institutions to train and develop competent human capacity should be a priority.”
“Agriculture is extremely important as a source of livelihood. In Nigeria, approximately 70 per cent of the population engages in agricultural production at a subsistence level.
“Agriculture, with its allied sector is unquestionably the largest livelihood provider more also in the rural areas and can contribute significantly to the gross domestic product, GDP.
“Agriculture is the largest sector of the Nigerian economy and employs two-thirds of the entire labour force.”
