President Goodluck Jonathan has urged African leaders to go beyond campaign ‎slogans if they want to get benefits of investment in agriculture. ‎He also stressed the importance of encouraging the private sector to invest in agriculture.

The President made the call during the closing of a high-level plenary of Grow Africa‎, with the theme: “A Leadership Agenda for Investing in African Agriculture.”

The event, held at the Sheraton Hotels, Abuja, was on the sideline of the World Economic Forum for Africa, to be declared open on Thursday.

Presidents Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Paul Kigame of Rwanda, Boni Yayi of Benin Republic and Prime Minister of Cote d Ivore, Daniel Duncan‎ and Jonathan were the panelists at the event.

In his speech, President Jonathan said, “You have to create environment to encourage investment because businessmen do not run charity organisations.

“That is why ‎we are now looking at agriculture as a business.

“The youths before now see agriculture as something that is left for the poor and old people in the village with traditional instruments. However, if you invest in agriculture, you will make returns on your investment.

“Agriculture is key because people must eat food no matter the situation.”

The President noted that the Federal Government dedicated 30 per cent of agriculture loans to women and encouraged young men and women to be interested in modern agriculture. ‎

“Financial inclusion is one of the limitations discouraging young people from investing in agriculture but if we encourage them, they will be attracted to the sector,” he said.

NAN reports that the President used the occasion to commend world leaders and the close to one thousand participants for defying terror threats to attend the World Economic Forum for Africa‎.

He also commended the participants for not giving in to the threat of terror and for accepting to attend the Forum and lauded the WEF team for not canceling the event.