Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Malam Mohammad Abubakar, has called for collaboration among stakeholders to resuscitate and boost the cotton industry to enhance the economic development of the country.
Abubakar made the call when the National Association of Cotton and Textile Producers in Nigeria paid him a courtesy visit.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Anibe Achimugu, the President of the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN), on Sunday, May 1, 2022, in Abuja.
According to the statement, Abubakar expressed his passion for agriculture, adding that collaboration is a necessity to boost the cotton industry.
“I will want us to collaborate, because the cotton industry is one that needs to be resuscitated. This will go a long way to boost the economic development of the country.
“My ministry, the various departments and the seed council will collaborate with you to bring this industry back to life to be vibrant and better than before.
“I know that if we are to propose the idea of the resuscitation of the cotton industry to the president, he will do something about it,” Abubakar said.
Speaking earlier, Achimugu praised the Minister for his passion and expressing the need for collaborations.
He said the association was at the ministry to intimate the Minister about some emerging challenges confronting the cotton industry and solicit the support of the Ministry.
The NACOTAN President said the minister’s words became significant not only in boosting large scale cotton farming in Nigeria but in reviving the textile industries that had become moribund for decades.
“It will be recalled that in the 1980s, Nigeria had about 170 textile companies with each employing not less than between 3,000 and 15,000 persons.
“Presently, only seven textile companies are functioning below maximum capacity, and reviving the remaining 160 companies will be the antidote that Nigeria needs to overcome her huge unemployment.”
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
