Pix at the Ratification Meeting on Socio-Economics Analysis on Wheat Final Report at Kano, State Ministry of Agric and Water Resources |
The Nigeria
report on wheat productivity by socio economics analysts at the value chains
slated for 1-4th August in Niamey, Niger Republic annual review
meeting for 2016-17 planning and review activities for Support to Agricultural
Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa (SARD-SC) is now ready alongside
with other countries in Africa.
Nigeria report presented on socio- economic for
evaluation at the wheat value chain productivity handled by Nigeria in the West
Africa hubs attracted many stakeholders from both public and private sector at
Kano as they gathered together to ratify the final report meant for submission at Niamey
towards annual review and planning of the 2016-17 SARD-SC being funded
by the African Development Bank, while
International Centre for Agricultural Research (ICARD) and Lake Chad Research
Institute( LCRI), Maiduguri are the implementing agencies in this region.
The validation
meeting that was declared opened by the Permanent secretary, Ministry of
Agriculture and Natural Resource, Kano state, HajiyaBintaRabi’u who admonished
all the participants that includes farmers, scientists, extension officers,
millers, seed companies, agro dealers and bakers to be very participatory in
the ratification of the final report on behalf of Nigeria and West African hub
saying her state government has been very supportive to agricultural
development especially in wheat production.
HajiyaRabi’u
‘s position was well supported by the Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria,
Kano state chapter chairman, Mallam Farouk Rabi’uMudi who also commended the Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar
Ganduje for his support for Agriculture saying the achievement recorded on the
crop was greatly attributed to his complimentary assistance through soft loan
at zero interest and two wheat cleaning machines for processing.
The
chairman, MallamMudi pointed that flour millers have already started off take
of this produce for further processing into flour as about 1,500 bags of clean
wheat has been given as the second delivery is going through cleaning for pick
up.
Speaking on
the importance of the validation meeting for the final ratification of the
socio economic report of the wheat productivity and consumption in West African
hubs, the Executive Director, LCRI Dr. OluwasinaOlabanji said it was part of
what would be presented at the Naimey
SARD-SC review and planning for the year 2016-17 wheat component adding
there was need to present a well ratified report for the country and West
Africa towards SARD-SC 2016-2017 projection.
Dr. Olabanji
said that the Naimey, Niger Republic meeting was going to focus on the
presentation of the wheat project activities in the East and West African hubs
low land saying the socio economic report, technologies generation and
dissemination cum gender would be presented for planning and review of the
2016-17 wheat activities towards food security.
Wheat consumption is rising rapidly in sub-Saharan Africa
and imports account for over 70% of the region’s needs. Change is needed to
protect ordinary Africans from the vagaries of global commodity markets and
strengthen the continent’s wheat security – without change, the Continent’s
population will remain vulnerable to sudden food price hikes.
Nigeria,
for instance, currently imports four million tons of wheat, spending $4 billion
on the commodity every year – a figure that is expected to reach $10 billion by
2030 as Nigerians are predicted to consume over 10 million tons of imported
wheat to satisfy their growing demand for non-traditional foods like pasta,
noodles, and bread.
In
Africa we cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past. The status quo –
the ever-expanding demand-supply gap – is unsustainable and the prime cause of
many societal problems, including widespread hunger and periodic violence.
ICARDA,
the national and CGIAR partners are attempting to address these challenges
through a region-wide initiative that aims to boost domestic production –
seeing this strategy as the principal means of tackling Africa’s rising import
dependence.
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