FG to Sustain Interventions in Agricultural Sector for Food Sufficiency – PMB

ABUJA – (Agriculture & Rural Development Ministry Report) – President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his Administration’s commitment to sustaining interventions in the Agricultural Sector to boost economic growth and create jobs for Nigerians.

He stated this at the National Agricultural Show which was organised at the National Agricultural Showground in Tudun Wada on KM 28 along Abuja – Keffi Road in Nasarawa State to mark this year’s World Food Day Celebration.

The President, who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muhammad Sabo Nanono (Alh) said that the current policy of the administration has put in place some interventions such as the Under Crop Initiative and the Anchor Borrower’s Programme on Rice to address the nation’s food security.

He explained that the programmes has created jobs for millions of youths and women and has reduced poverty; huge import bills and saved the country’s foreign exchange.

“The theme for this year’s World Food Day Celebration – “Our Actions Are Our Future: Healthy Diets for #ZeroHunger World” is apt now that our diets and eating habits are drastically changing as a result of globalization, urbanization and income growth. So, concerted efforts are required by all stakeholders to ensure healthy food systems for food security and nutrition,” President Buhari said.

He further noted that it is also a wakeup call for policy makers across every sector of the economy to ensure food security, accessibility through healthy and sustainable diets provision. He declared that efforts are also being made to increase the supply of more farm inputs to farmers to boost their productivity, assuring that the administration will continue to address the challenges of the growing population and declining revenue by promoting agribusiness, aiding economic livelihood and attaining food security in the country. 

Muhammadu Buhari informed that the matching of agro – processing companies with

Farmers Out – Growers Cooperative to ensure an off – take value addition and grant income for chain actors placed under the CBN Anchor Borrowers Scheme has commenced. He also mentioned that the mechanised agricultural programme is being promoted to operate machinery hiring enterprise schemes under private operators to facilitate the manufacturing of durable farm equipments that can withstand the varying geographical terrain and climate of the country.

He urged relevant stakeholders to own the concept, scheme and strategies of deploying the commodity value chain towards promoting agribusiness in the country through the instrument of inclusiveness, transparency, prioritization, partnership and accountability. The President acknowledged the efforts of the major stakeholders in the sector including, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations; the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN); OXFAM, Action Aid, and other development partners for their collaboration in organizing the World Food Day Exhibition. 

Also speaking at the event, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule (Engr) said that the importance of the National Agricultural Show cannot be over emphasized, not only due to its contribution to promoting self-sufficiency in food production, but also in promoting the cardinal principles of President Buhari’s Next Level Agenda, particularly in the  agricultural sector.

Abdullahi Sule informed that at the inception of his administration, he had made Agriculture a priority for economic development and diversification and therefore constituted an Economic and Investment Advisory Council to chart the way forward, in terms of enhancing food security and job creation in the State.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NAFN, Abdullahi Adamu (Sen) noted that Agricultural research institutes need to be urgently revived now more than ever before, adding that agriculture relied on and benefited from modern research into crop production in the past and played a vital role in applied research. He inferred that they can still do so if they are revived and empowered to play that statutory role.

The FAO Director-General, Qu Dong yu in his address delivered by the Country Representative in Nigeria, Suffyan Koroma called on Government to adopt policy, food standard and regulations that would prioritize the availability and affordability of safe and nutrition foods.

“The latest data shows that malnutrition is increasing across all regions and income groups in Nigeria, whilst the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults keeps increasing and is currently at 7.8% in Nigeria. One in three children is stunted and underweight also currently at 19.9%, which is higher than the globally accepted numbers. Overweight and obesity in adults are on the rise and 48.5% of women of reproductive age are anaemic,” he stated.

He pointed out that the theme for this year’s World Food Day – “Our Actions Are Our Future – Healthy Diet For #ZeroHunger World” calls for action to make healthy and sustainable diets accessible and affordable to everyone and cautioned on the need for Nigerians to focus on promoting healthy lifestyles.

The exhibition showcased various Agro and allied products on display by farmers and stakeholders in the agriculture value chain from across the country.