Economic diversification is not confined to specific theories, principles and products. As some economic experts will tell you, integrated development is all-inclusive. For instance, there is nothing that says that while rice is being grown in one area, beans cannot be planted in another area. This appears to be the rational of the law-making body in Nigeria.
It has been reported that a bill for the establishment of National Tea and Coffee Development Council to develop commercial cultivation of the produce in the country has passed second reading in Senate. The bill was first read in the Upper Chamber in April, 2017 and it seeks to enhance growth, production and marketing of tea and coffee to boost agriculture and enhance revenue generation in the country.
The thinking is that if the bill is finally passed into law, it will reduce the overdependence on oil export earnings so as to further exploit the country’s vast agricultural potentials.
Leading the debate at plenary yesterday, the sponsor of the bill, Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf (Taraba Central) argued that some parts of the country especially in the Mambilla Plateau, had been endowed with suitable climate and soil conditions that could be harnessed for large cultivation of tea and coffee but the lands are yet to be utilized.
According to Senator Yusuf, governments have not made any major impact in terms of active involvement and participation in tea and coffee growth.
He stated that “the bill has tremendous benefits on the local tea and coffee producing areas, employment generation and by extension, the development of productive sectors such as tourism and wildlife conservation.”
Concurring the views, Senators Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South) and Aliyu Abdullahi (Niger North) pointed out that most beverages consumed in the country are imported, which is capital intensive, considering the current exchange rate. This, he argued, influenced the rationale for the bill.
