Investment in agric requires patience — Don

Investment in agric requires patience – Don 20 Aug 2015 5:39 PM The Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Akwa Ibom State University, Prof. Umoren Umoren, has urged Nigerians to show commitment in investment in agriculture. He stated that apart from adopting mechanised farming, investors must be committed to long-term investment, which is required for developing certain agricultural produce. Speaking in Uyo on Thursday, Umoren revealed that Americans used over 100 years to develop Uncle Benz rice while Israel used over 50 years to develop special cattle used in crossing the heart of the country. “The problem I see with Nigerians is lack of commitment and patience. Nigerians always want their returns back just immediately after investment. They do not know that the long range rice, Uncle Benz, took Americans over 100 years to develop. “The grassier cattle, which is used to cross the heart of Israel, took them more than 50 years to be able to record a breakthrough. Here, we just do something for two or three years and expect returns immediately; and when the returns is not forthcoming, the project is abandoned,” he said. Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Eno Ibanga, stated that the university would begin to collaborate with other institutions in the agriculture and technological advancement. He said this at a lecture entitled, ‘Integrated agriculture, the key to sustainable food production, the Israeli experience’, organised by the Faculty of Agriculture, AKSU, Obio Akpa Campus.