The Special Adviser on Agriculture to the Governor of Enugu State, Michael Ogbuekwe, has stressed that farming in its raw form, without value addition, can only amount to subsistence and not real economic growth.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Ogbuekwe made the assertion while speaking on Beyond the Headlines, a programme on Freedom Square TV anchored by Uchenna Cyril Anioke.
He explained that although agriculture remains the backbone of survival for many Nigerians, it must be complemented with processing industries, storage facilities, and manufacturing to create jobs, boost revenue, and strengthen food security.
“His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State, who is an industrialist, has come to move Enugu into an era of industrialization, and that is why he is reviving moribund industries and linking production to industrialization,” Ogbuekwe said.
He further noted that when agricultural produce is not processed, preserved, or linked to industries, farmers earn little while post-harvest losses remain high.
According to him, deliberate government policies by the State Governor are designed to encourage agro-industrialization, attract investors, and empower farmers to move beyond mere survival into wealth creation.
Ogbuekwe concluded that only through industrialization can agriculture truly drive sustainable development in Enugu State and Nigeria at large.