By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Director General of Premier Agribusiness Academy, Mr Toromade Francis, has revealed that to make agribusiness profitable in Nigeria, farmers must acquire cognitive skill and knowledge of human capital development, marketing and sales of agric products as well as logistics and supply chain management through continuous training and learning.
According to the agribusiness expert, there is a huge difference between agriculture and agribusiness, stressing that what makes agriculture a business is its ability to generate profit.
Mr Francis, in a chat with reporters last Saturday in Lagos, applauded federal government for its food self-sufficiency initiative and move towards diversifying the economy from crude oil to agriculture.
He noted that no nation can survive without local food production, but stressed that for Nigeria to realize this vision, there must be significant increase in local food production cutting across livestock, crop and aquaculture.
The consultant pointed out that until farmers begin to see agriculture as a business venture and invest in acquiring the managerial knowledge needed to boost production and ensure profitability, food self-sufficiency for Nigeria may remain a mirage.
“The key is agribusiness. It is not enough to know the technical aspect of agriculture or study agriculture in school. To become successful and profitable in agriculture, there is need for farmers to acquire knowledge of the business side of agriculture which is what Premier Agribusiness Academy offers.
“All over the world, people are no longer talking about agriculture, the stress is on agribusiness because that is where profit lies.
“For farmers to be profitable, they need to acquire knowledge of strategies to market their products effectively manage their human, capital and material resources. All these competences are what the academy offers in its courses,” he told newsmen.
According to him, the vision of Premier Agribusiness Academy is to transfer well researched and innovative competences required for sustainable investments in non-allied industries of the agri-sector to farmers.
Mr Francis, who is also the Business Development Consultant for Rome Business School and a facilitator in Lagos Business School, revealed that the institution offers short executive courses, poultry management courses, aquaculture management and consultancy services to farmers.
He urged farmers to take advantage of the academy’s forthcoming training on Creative Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills for Decision Making slated for October 5, 2019 at Sheraton Hotels and Suites, Ikeja, Lagos as an opportunity to further increase their knowledge in agribusiness management.
He revealed that the academy was willing to collaborate with major players in the agribusiness value chain both locally and internationally.
Adedapo Adesanya