Guild of Editors task FG to use agriculture to revive nation's economy

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), on Sunday urged the Federal Government to adopt agriculture as a means of reviving the nation`s economy.

The Guild made the call in a communiqué at end of its 12th annual conference in Port Harcourt.

The conference theme was "Economic Diversification: Agriculture As Option For A Prosperous Nigeria”.

The communiqué, signed by its President, Mrs Funke Egbemode and Secretary, Mrs Victoria Ibanga, said the move would create employment for youths and bring prosperity to the country and its people.

``The media has a major role to play in efforts to redirect the consciousness of Nigerians especially the youth towards embracing modern, technology-driven agriculture,” it said.

The Guild called on the government to evolve policies that will protect local farmers against influx of foreign agricultural products.

It also suggested that government should encourage local production for food sufficiency and processing of raw materials.

According to the Guild, government should quickly recapitalize and make more functional, the Bank of Agriculture and other institutions relevant to the agricultural programmes of the country.

It stated `` the formation of more farmers’ co-operative societies should be encouraged while those already in existence should be strengthened to improve on their productivity”.

It said that the Guild lamented the decline in the quality of journalism practice and non-adherence to the ethics of the profession and called on Editors to make efforts to redress the situation in their different organisations.

The communiqué said that the Guild ratified Mrs Funke Egbemode as its President.