By Chinedu Echianu
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, has called for a shift from subsistence to commercial farming, saying agricultural processing and expanded value chains could create thousands of jobs in Nigeria.
Dingyadi said increasing agricultural production alone would not address unemployment without investment in processing, storage, packaging, transportation, distribution and access to markets.
He made the call in Abuja on Tuesday, at the 14th meeting of the National Employment Council (NEC), where stakeholders discussed ways to use agricultural value chains to expand employment and economic opportunities.
The minister warned that inadequate storage, processing facilities and market access could lead to post-harvest losses, lower farmers’ earnings and fewer job opportunities.
He urged the government and private sector to invest in agro-processing and agribusiness, improve access to finance and technology, support small and medium-sized enterprises and strengthen market connections.
Dingyadi also called for vocational and digital skills development to prepare Nigerians for jobs in mechanised farming, irrigation, food processing, agricultural technology, quality assurance and supply-chain management.
He urged stakeholders to increase the participation of young people and women in agricultural enterprises, saying the sector should be developed as a commercial venture capable of generating wealth and decent employment.
Established in 2018, the National Employment Council coordinates employment policies and the implementation of Nigeria’s National Employment Policy. Its activities are also linked to the International Labour Organisation’s Strengthening Employment and Employability Systems in Nigeria project.
Edited by Julian Osamoto
