Banks must start lending to farmers

From the President to paupers, every Nigerian now utters with conviction that a major road out of recession into future prosperity lies in the promotion of agriculture. Experts have repeated it so often that it has become shopworn.

Unfortunately, like all roads paved with gold which often lead to hell, this good intention might be getting us nowhere because economic and social development cannot be achieved without concrete steps being taken to actualise them.

Given that scenario, agriculture will not take its rightful place any time soon, and the quest for meaningful diversification will continue to elude us. Nigeria will continue to be dependent on imported food and poverty will not be reduced for years to come.
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