The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security recently declared the opening for investment of the Nigerian Agritourism Village project located in Ibadan, Oyo State, South-West, Nigeria. Represented by a Director in the ministry, Mr. Okonkom Etoabasi, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, made a declaration of the opening of the village in Abuja, the Capital of Nigeria. The Nigerian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is keen on ensuring the achievement of this project.
As a result, it has secured two hundred hectares of the Nigerian Agritourism Village to aid the enhancement of agriculture and tourism investment across the nation. This was revealed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, at the event of the declaration of the Nigerian Agritourism Village Project opening for investment. The event was organized by the Federal Ministry Agriculture and Food Security in partnership with World Agritourism Organization and Bangladesh.
It will provide educational opportunities for the masses.
Through Mr. Okonkom Etoabasi, the Permanent Secretary stated that this village will contribute to the diversification of the economy of Nigeria, while strengthening food security in the country. The event of the opening for investment was regarded as a milestone in Nigeria agricultural sector, alongside the Organization of International Agribusiness and Agritourism Forum in Nigeria, which is keen on ensuring agricultural revolution for the empowerment of food security and value-added agriculture, while encouraging industrialization, among others.
Also, the combination of agriculture and tourism will ensure provision of the potential for an increment of local tax bases and new employment opportunities for communities. Etoabasi added that it is likewise capable of providing educational opportunities to the masses, helps in the preservation of agricultural land, and paves the way for States to enable development of business enterprises. The President of the World Agritourism Organization, Mr. Trust Henry Ogboi, also contributed his quota at the occasion.
Security agencies will secure an enabling environment for the business.
He said that regardless of the challenge of insecurity facing the country, the organization is collaborating with security agencies to secure an enabling environment that will help the agriculture business to prosper in Nigeria. He added that he is aware of the security challenges which the country is grappling with, citing it as the reason why every relevant security organization in Nigeria has been partnered with. He asserted that this would ensure confidence and safety in the conduction of farming operations.
Furthermore, the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria expressed appreciation concerning the support of the Nigerian government. This is because his country, Bangladesh, has been given fifty hectares of land to promote this new sector in Nigeria. The initiative for the establishment of the Nigerian Agritourism village in six geo-political zones of Nigeria was approved in 2017 by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. The first of this village is located in Oyo State, and was launched in July 2023.
A commercial enterprise that combines agric. production with tourism.
Agritourism is a rising field that is gaining popularity as farm producers embrace diversification to increase profits. Through the combination of agriculture and tourism, this field offers new means of revenue. It is a commercial enterprise that combines agricultural production and processing with tourism for the purpose of attracting visitors to a ranch, farm, or other agricultural spaces. This is done to educate and entertain the visitors, while making income for the farm or agricultural business.
Related Link
Nationalaglawcenter: Website
