By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Research firms in Nigeria have been charged to conduct researches capable of enhancing agriculture in the country, especially in the area of food security.
The Senate Committee on Agriculture, during official visits to some research firms in Abuja at the weekend, noted that diversifying the Nigerian economy would require huge investments and improvement in agricultural researches to boost the nation’s potential in that sector.
During the lawmakers’ visit to Contec Agro Laboratory, Chairman of the committee, Mr Abdullahi Adamu, observed that the solution to Nigeria’s food security challenges would be best addressed through radical improvement in agricultural researches.
The lawmaker commended Contec Agro Laboratory for being at the forefront of conducting researches that would improve the agricultural sector in the country.
“My first impression here at Contec Agro Laboratory is that the research work being undertaken here is one of the best kept secrets of the agriculture initiative and research towards meeting Nigeria’s food crisis,” he said.
In his remarks, Managing Director of Contec Global Agro Limited, Mr Thomas Chackunkal, said the Ministry of Science and Technology allotted four hectares of land to the company to build integrated bio fertilizer and pesticides factories in Abuja.