Food
THE Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has inaugurated a steering committee for the implementation of the National Strategy on Potato.
Dr Earnest Afolabi, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry inaugurated the committee on Thursday in Jos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had in September, launched the National Strategy on potato to run from 2023 to 2028.
Afolabi, who was represented by Mr Steven Dowoh, the Coordinator of the ministry in Plateau, reiterated government’s commitment toward the development of the agricultural sector.
”Our goal is to stimulate economic growth through various agricultural value chain activities, thereby creating employment opportunities and improved livelihoods of our teeming youths and women.
”Let me assure you that food and nutrition security remains a priority for the ministry and we are firmly committed to achieving it.
”We will explore every possible opportunity to boost production, processing product development and marketing of potatoes and other crops.
”I have no doubt that the Nigerian potato industry has the potential to become globally competitive given the country’s possibility for an extensive commercial production in about 12 states,” he said.
The permanent secretary explained that the committee would provide technical support to facilitate the implementation of the strategy toward achieving its outcomes.
He added that it would also be responsible for coordinating the identified key value chain activities in the 12 states as contained in the launched document.
”The committee shall be responsible for carrying out a situational analysis of the potato sector in the country, strategic direction for potato value chain, promoting international, legal and regulatory framework, among other functions,”he said.
Responding, Chairman of the committee, Mr Hakeem Raji, thanked the federal government for finding them worthy to serve in the committee.
He promised that members of the committee would do their best in developing a blueprint for the effective implementation of the strategy.
NAN reports that members of the committee were drawn from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Plateau Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), private sector, among others.(NAN)
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November 30, 2023 @ 17:39 GMT|
Tags: Dr Earnest Afolabi
