Controversy on Orange Fleshed potato as FG terminates MOU

Dr. Peju Phorbee.

Despite the global award given to Orange fleshed Sweet Potato( OFSP) for its ability to mitigate hunger especially in Africa at the recent 2016 World Price Laureate, the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria has issued a letter of dis-engagement from her initial recognition given to this crop cultivation through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Potato Centre (IPC) by official termination through a letter convey to the office under the coordination of Dr. Peju Phorbee.

The termination letter dated May 19, 2016 was dully signed, but the office of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development seems to have distant itself from the letter saying it knew nothing about it.

IPC is the chief promoter and marketer of the a special variety of vine called Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP), a health booster with reach vitamin A and beta carotene with a MOU collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) before the termination of the understanding.

The letter dated 19^th may, 2016 and signed on behalf of the Minister with subject matter “Notice of termination of memorandum of Understanding” with paragraph three (3) stating that“consequence upon the above and relying on Article 11.1 of the memorandum of understanding, the ministry hereby give you three months’ notice of intention to terminate the MOU starting from the date of receipt of this letter”

Speaking on the matter the IPC Country Representative, Dr. Peju Phorbee said the letter of the MOU termination was received in her office but queried why it could not be confirmed in the minister’s office as officials have distant themselves from it.  

Orange fleshed sweet potato according to Dr. Phorbee was already doing well in about six states of the federation without any government financial support, saying “it is very strategic to food security in the world especially when considering the nutritional advantages in beta carotene and vitamin A richness” 

 She also lamenting on why government should decline partnership with this crop that has recently won a global prize award for its achievement to mitigate hunger with its positive impact already manifesting in about ten states of the country. 

Dr. Phorbee stated that the government’s support to the development of the crop would impact greatly on its quick development saying she did not expect FG to take up the entire value chains financial responsibility, but stated just an aspect of enlightenment and awareness creation would enhance its cultivation, processing and marketing of its many derivatives especially in the face of home feeding school program.

At last year meeting of ICP with the Internally Displayed Persons in Abuja, the potato value chain desk officer, Mrs. Justina Udoson representing the FMARD had said the Federal Government would increase her support for the OFSP project through proper funding so that it could be used as a mean for sustainable health, wealth creation and a platform to reach the IDPs in Nigeria. 

She stressed that the OFSP is a project of the FMARD and should be taken seriously due to its untapped potentials to ensuring food security.