The United States has urged Nigeria to increase funding of the agriculture sector to end poverty and build greater capacity.

The Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Mr Michael Harvey, made the appeal on Monday at a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and state representatives at the US embassy in Abuja.

Mr Harvey identified lack of capital and research among other challenges as a major hindrance to job creation and development in the sector.

He said that the neglect of the agriculture sector has given rise to hunger, poverty and a huge population of youths struggling to find jobs.

The US official expressed worry at the challenge faced by the American government in seeking to intensify partnership to assist the sector to be economically productive under the Feed the Future initiative.

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Audu Ogbeh, on his part commended the support of the US towards improving the sector.

He also hinted that the Federal Government would launch an agriculture fund to improve investment. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Audu Ogbeh.