Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago has called on various stakeholders to work closely together and fine-tune implementable policies and strategies to facilitate sustainable food for all in the face of the high cost of living in the country.
Bago, who spoke through his deputy, Yakubu Garba, stated this on the commemoration of the 2024 World Food Day with the theme, “Safer Foods and Better Health” at the Legbo Kitigi International Centre in Minna.
He explained that currently, Niger is collaborating with several international-funded partners in the state to improve and modernise agri-value chain activities to boost the productivity of major crops such as rice, cassava, maize, and sorghum.
“Also, these partnerships focused on human capacity building, infrastructural development, and promoting value addition, reassuring us of the global support for our local efforts, ” the governor stated.
He further explained: “This is given the fact that Nigeria is faced with the critical challenge of the high cost of living resulting from the economic realities, insecurity, and climate change, which all aggravate food insecurity and threaten the survival of the most vulnerable segment of our population.”
Bago then called on all genuine investors and partners across the globe to take advantage of the opportunities available in the state to invest in all aspects of agricultural practice and its value chain to accelerate transformation as envisioned by the administration.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Musa Salihu Bosso, disclosed that already, preliminary reports and data received by the ministry on the wet season agricultural production activities look highly favourable and encouraging despite the initial slight drought experience mid-season.
He stated: “The state has attracted investments worth billions of naira as well as partnerships and collaborations with partners all over the world into the sector.
By the time these investments and partnerships are fully implemented, the state will take its rightful place as far as agriculture is concerned.”
The commissioner also said the state’s doors are always open for genuine collaborations, suggestions and innovations that will further improve and expand agricultural activities in the state.
“Already, the state has commenced the implementation of various initiatives and programmes with the vision of leading other states in food production not only to make the state and the entire country food secure but to have surplus for export,” the governor added.
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