ABUJA (Min of Agriculture and Rural Dev Report) – The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) with the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAASG2000), to realize the overall Nigerian economic objective as enshrined in the Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP).
During the signing ceremony, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono, said that the MOU is meant to deepen, expand, consolidate and sustain the developed and proven extension models being delivered to the Nigerian smallholder farmers.
According to him, collaboration effort with Sasakawa would focus on transfer of appropriately tested and acceptable knowledge and technological packages on selected agricultural commodity value chain, it will also benefit commercially oriented smallholder farmers, particularly women and youths, and ultimately improve the country’s agricultural productivity and production, food security and nutrition as well as bring about the reduction of post- harvest losses.
He disclosed that the implementation strategy was further reviewed to achieve better results under six thematic areas; Post-Harvest and Agro Processing(PHAP), Crop Productivity Enhancement (CPE), Monitoring Evaluation Learning and Sharing (MELS), Sasakawa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE) and Management.
He therefore pledged Federal Government’s support for Sasaakwa initiatives in Nigeria, which he said was in line with President Muhammad Buhari’s Next Level Agenda of achieving food security and economic growth in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Executive Director, NIPPON Foundation, Japan’s largest private philanthropic organization and the major financing institution backing Sasakawa, Ichiro Kabasawa, said that the organization would lead in influencing the inclusive transformation of African Agriculture towards empowering smallholder-farmers and sustain increased productivity and income in response to market demand.
He further said that Nigeria has the potential to do more by increasing its investments in nutrition and help to secure the health and well-being of mothers and children, stating that it would lead to better economic growth for the country.
Kabasawa informed that as at December 2018, the program promoted demand driven and value chain oriented curriculum in 26 institutions (24 Universities and two Agricultural Colleges), across nine African Countries including Nigeria. He added that in 2019, Sasakwa Africa Association (SAA) has made a strategic shift that allows organization changes to make SAA interventions more effective and efficient with better synergy and coordination.
The Director, Federal Department of Agriculture Extension, Mrs. Karima Babangida, who spoke earlier, pointed out that the collaboration was improving the productivity and strengthening extension delivery for 2018/2019 cropping season in six existing States in Nigeria; Ogun (Rice and Cassava), Cross River (Rice and Cassava), Katsina (Maize and Cotton), Anambra (Rice and Cassava), Gombe (Rice and Maize) and Kogi (Cassava).
She further informed that six Universities; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaira, Bayero University, Kano, Adamawa State University, University of llorin, Kwara, Federal University, Dutse, Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto have also benefitted from the collaboration under SAFE thematic area.
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Ezeaja Ikemefuna
For: Director, Information (FMARD)
