Professor Ibrahim R. Mohammed, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture at the Bayero University Kano Nigeria has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to add Agricultural Research and Investment to the critical areas he intends to promote as the new ECOWAS Chair.
According to him, budgeted funds for agricultural in most of the ECOWAS states are channelled into payment of salaries and services by the various Ministries of Agriculture instead of investing such funds into Agricultural Research and value addition.
Professor Ibrahim Mohammed, who is part of a delegation of Agricultural Scientists from Bayero University Kano Nigeria told Myjoyonline.com the team is in Ghana to acquaint themselves with work at the Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre FOHCREC of the University of Ghana.
He said the meeting is also to afford the delegation the opportunity to exchange ideas about new techniques that will be beneficial to both universities.
While congratulating Ghana's president on his election as ECOWAS chair, Prof Mohammed said President John Mahama must reconsider agriculture as one of the key areas that need attention on the continent.
Last week, President John Mahama pointed out three critical areas he intended to focus on having been elected ECOWAS Chair. These are Peace and Security, Economic Integration and Infrastructural Development.
But professor Mohamed of Nigeria is of the view that emphasis should also be placed on Agricultural Research and Investment which will eventually force the leaders to change their attitude towards Agriculture and ensure food security among member states.
The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) instituted about ten years ago mandates all countries on the continent to set aside 10% budgetary allocation for Agriculture. Though some progress has been made in this regard, there is the need to show more commitment.
Professor Ibrahim Mohamed said, Agricultural practices have evolved over the years and has become technologically driven therefore it is incumbent on leaders to designsupporting policy and legislation to encourage the private sector to participate fully in the sector.
He also urged political heads to make available agricultural inputs by way of mechanisation, value addition for export, storage and financial support to improve production.