FG seeks to boost food security through Technology
The Federal Government has expressed commitment to achieve food security and provide employment in the country by exploring the value chain in Agriculture.
Confirming this assertion, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Mohammed Mahmood Abubakar, maintained that a lot would be achieved by when when policies are drafted from the bottom to top.
Abubakar made this disclosure in Gombe during North East Regional Validation exercise of the draft National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), 2022-2025.
Represented by the Zonal Director Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Umaru Mohammed, the minister explained that the policy framework include; stakeholders synergy, knowledge creation, private sector driven mechanization, commodity value chain development, land and climate management and agricultural financing.
According to him, The choice of Gombe State as venue for the North East regional validation of the draft NATIP document is in recognition of the State
Government’s commitment to the development of agriculture as a way of diversifying the nation’s economy, towards ensuring food & nutrition security.
Abubakar said, “In this perspective, I am optimistic that the capacity of participants at this exercise would generate useful input that will shape and guide the Ministry in the finalisation of the sector policy framework in view.
“I therefore, urge you to be open-minded in sharing your ideas and contributing towards developing a robust sector strategic policy that would help Nigeria achieve food & nutrition security and create employment for economic growth and national development.”
He added that the focus of the policy is the establishment of cottage industries and agro-processing zones for prioritized commodities, functional ranches, grazing reserves and integrated meat and dairy processing facilities.
“The expectations for the policy framework include stakeholders synergy knowledge creation and transfer, private sector driven mechanization
Commodity value-chain development, land and climate management, a agricultural financing.
“In terms of strategies, the focus is the establishment or Cottage industries and agro-processing zones for prioritized commodities. Also is
establishment of functional models of ranches, grazing reserves, and integrated meat and dairy processing facilities. Equally is the fisheries value chain development.”
Also speaking, Gombe state Chairman All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Modibbo Nafada, lauded the Federal Government’s efforts in ensuring development of farmers in the country.
Nafada urged the Government to ensure proper implementation of policies to boost food sufficiency.
He noted the need for increased provision of inputs.
“We need adequate security, most especially in our zones. We need the issue of climate change to be addressed. There are alot of things that we need that will improve our production. Most of our farmers don’t have idea on how to use some of the inputs that they are getting,” Nafada said.
