The Federal Government says agritourism development in Nigeria will strengthen food and nutrition security as well as encouraging industrialisation for wealth and job creation.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, made this submission at the 2024 World Agri-tourism Day on Thursday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that agritourism, a short form of agricultural tourism, is a form of tourism that involves visitors participating in or experiencing various aspects of agricultural activities.
The minister said that agritourism also aimed to enhance the current capacity and growth in the non-oil sector.
Abdullahi said the theme of the event, ‘Food Security for All’ was in consonant with President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of State of Emergency on food security.
He said that the theme was also in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Tinubu to promote agritourism development in Nigeria which was geared towards an agricultural revolution.
Abdullahi expl
ained that agritourism encompassed a range of activities, including farm tours, agricultural festivals, farm stays, and educational programmes that connected visitors with the agricultural landscape.
‘It benefits both farmers, who gain additional income and tourists who gain insights into the agricultural world/activities relating to agritourism.
‘Agritourism ranges from farm tours and workshops to seasonal festivals and tastings of farm-produced goods among others.
‘Agritourism presents a unique opportunity to combine aspects of the tourism and agriculture industries to provide a number of financial, educational, and social benefits to tourists, producers, and communities,’ he said.
Earlier, the President, World Agritourism Organisation (WAO), Amb. Trust Ogboi, said that the enormous value in agritourism would generate huge foreign exchange to the Nigeria economy and beyond national boundary.
Ogboi said that the Organisation was in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture to establish Nigerian Agr
itourism Villages in the 36 states and FCT to ensure food security, job creation and attract investment.
He expressed hope that WAO would metamorphose into United Nations World Agritourism Organisation like the United Nations World Tourism Organisation(UNWTO).
In a remark, Prof. Garba Sharubutu, the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), said that food security and industrialisation of the economy was at the center of Tinubu’s administration.
He said that every Nigerian must work towards achieving the food security agenda of the Federal Government to ensure that food was available to all.
In a goodwill message, the Country Director, World Food Programme (WFP) in Nigeria, Mr David Stevenson, said the Organisation was humbled by the progress it had made in advancing food security and rural development in Nigeria.
According to him, agritourism stands as a beacon of promise for Nigeria, offering a myriad of benefits including heightened food production, rural community developm
ent, job creation, and bolstered foreign exchange.
‘As we commemorate World Agri-Tourism Day, Nigeria is presented with a golden opportunity to spotlight agriculture and agri-tourism as key drivers of progress,’ he said.
Stevenson was represented by Mrs Olabisi Ogungbemi, Lead for Government Relations, United Nations World Food Programme, Nigeria.
Also, the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri- Erewa, represented by Felix Imologhume, said that agritourism would help support local farmers and promote sustainable agriculture.
She said it would also empower small- scale farmers, rural communities, support local economies as well as community development.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria