<p>Nigeria needs more reforms to boost agricultural productivity and competitiveness of the economy, the Acting Executive Director, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Dr. Olufemi Oladunmi has said. While he acknowledged the government’s success in pursuing macroeconomic and structural reforms, Oladunmi said more attention was needed to improve the attractiveness of the agriculture sector through domestic investment.In an interview with The Nation, Oladunmi said growth driven by agriculture could be effective at reducing poverty, calling an enabling environment to drive greater investments from the private sector. Oladunmi urgedthe government to reform the land use act to attract the kind of direct investment it needs to build and expand food production and infrastructure.</p> <p>He said: “The Land Use Act should be reviewed to give unhindered access to land by the small holder farmers,especially the women farmers.” On funding he added: “We have to carry out microcredit reform from the perspective of the microfinance banks and institutions.The small holder farmers should be able to access funds at single digit interest rate when the need arises.”</p> <p>Also, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) National Publicity Secretary, Anga Sotonye, said the nation’s agricultural growth could be raised further, if the government implemented necessary reforms, including unifying the tax regime, as well as opening the economy further to investment and trade. According to him, inclusive agricultural policies could have a remarkable impact on sustainable production and food security, adding that the time had come for finance and investment firms to consider investing in the sector, especially in the production of cashew.</p>