The federal government has concluded plans to conduct a national Agricultural sample census. The census is aimed at providing the nation with basic data on the structure of the sector, as well as gross domestic product rebasing and framework to guide subsequent surveys. The minister of finance, Zainab Ahmed while declaring open the one day stakeholders sensitization workshop on the National Agricultural sample census organized by the National Bureau of statistics in Abuja described the intervention as long over due, saying it will serve as baseline for the government to evaluate the success of it’s policies and programs initiated in the sector. Earlier in his welcome remarks, the statistician General, NBS, Dr Simon Harry said the sensitization is inline with the vision of the present administration to revitalize the Agriculture sector by creating the environment for Nigerians to go back to farms. Other speakers including the representative of the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, lauded the initiative especially as agriculture remains the largest non oil expert earner for the country. For the stakeholders, it is believed that data generated from the census will assist the federal government in its policy formulation processes as well as channel scarce resources to areas where they will make most impact.
