Zero Hunger |
The peer advisory
mechanism is a brainchild of the Nigeria Zero Hunger Forum (NZHF) that
is aimed at reviewing, monitoring, and advising states in Nigeria on the
ways and means by which the states themselves, using available
resources, can achieve zero hunger by 2030.
The five pilot states which gave their endorsements include Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Ogun and Sokoto state.
International
Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Goodwill Ambassador, former
President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is chairing the NZHF said "More states
will be involved as we make progress
According to a
communique issued at the end of the maiden edition of the NZHF in
Makurdi and made available yesterday "Members of the NZHF
which cut across the private sector, government and development partners
agreed to hold its advisory meetings on quarterly basis across the
states"
The Forum also
adopted a template for its future advisory meetings: The first day
should be dedicated to a welcome address by the state followed by
presentations of what is going on in the host state related to achieving
zero hunger (challenges, successes, and lessons learnt). The next day,
should be dedicated to field visits to engage with large, medium, and
small scale farmer groups; medium and large scale agriculture related
industries such as food and feed processors, and fertilizer blending
factories, and programs to improve the health and nutrition of infants
and children. The day should end with reflections of the day and a
communique.
IITA Deputy
Director General for Partnerships for Delivery, Dr Kenton Dashiell, ,
who also manages the secretariat of the NZHF at IITA, explained that the
peer advisory mechanism of the NZHF would encourage states to keep
focus to the commitment they made towards agriculture so they could by
themselves achieve their set targets.
He commended the
maiden meeting in Benue state, noting that the state has the capacity to
feed the country if its agricultural potential was fully tapped.
The Governor of
Benue State, Dr Samuel Ortom, described the Nigeria Zero Hunger
initiative as a tool that would accelerate the agricultural development
of states through peer learning. He noted that through the
instrumentality of the Forum the state was able to purchase fertilizers
in good time for distribution to farmers.
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