The present Administration has been commended on her giant stride and foresightedness in revolutionizing Agriculture in Nigeria for more food safety and quality assurance of Agricultural commodities.
These heartwarming impactful achievements are being achieved through the effort of the inter-Ministerial committee on Zero Reject Initiative co-chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural development Chief Audu Ogbe and Mr. Okechukwu Enelama of Industry Trade and Investment.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe made this commendation while flagging off the Nationwide Advocacy in Kano, The Minister who was represented by the Director FDA, Dr. Amin Babande revealed that the quality of commodities starts from the field operations including land cleaning, soil testing,, seeds selection, varietal selection, chemical application, good agricultural practices (GAP) as well as post -harvest operations which are under the mandate of the Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA).
Speaking further, Audu Ogbeh said to truly practice diversification and use agriculture as a veritable tool to grow the economy and also have our own share of the export at both regional and international markets. The time is now for mainstream food safety into agricultural products.
Chief Ogbeh said the nationwide advocacy on quality control and standardization of agricultural commodities which targets primary producers (farmers) and other stakeholders along the food chain is therefore necessary at this time to inculcate the culture of agro quality among the policy makers in both public and private institutions to recognize.
The Executive Governor of Kano state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje while flagging off the nationwide advocacy on agricultural quality control and standardization- Zero Reject Initiative in Kano state for the North-West thanked the Federal Government for this proactive initiative. He said, with the location of the famous Dawanou International Market in Kano, an International Airport, a Hydro-electric Power Project, a functional Railway System, an Export Processing Zone at Panisou, the state government is ready to key into the Zero Reject Initiative immediately because of the comparative advantage over all the states in the North West zone.
Some intervention materials were distributed to selected rice, tomatoes, and bee farmers during the event.
Lere-Adams, A. Blessing
Acting Director; Information
FMARD.
