poor agric growth due to poor policy implementation

The former Vice-
Chancellor, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University
(ATBU), Bauchi, Prof. Garba Babaji, has identified
non-implementation of agricultural policies as the
bane of development of the sector in the country.
Babaji stated this in Gombe on Wednesday while
speaking on agriculture at the ongoing North-East
Economic Summit in Gombe.
''We implement policies half-hazardly; we need to
have clear and consistent vision,'' he said.
Babaji, who is an agriculturist, stressed the need
to ensure the maintenance of agricultural
machinery to enhance mechanised farming.
''If you look at the number of broken down
tractors due to lack of maintenance, it is pathetic,''
he said.
He urged the Governors (from the zone) to
imbibe the culture of continuity of policy to
ensure sustainability in the agricultural sector.
Also speaking on agriculture, Dr Jummai Adamu,
an agriculturist, said the region was blessed with
abundant agricultural potential and stressed the
need to exploit them.
''Livestock, poultry and fish farming, need to be
encouraged; poverty will be a thing of the past, if
we do this,'' he said. (NAN)