USAID Release: Nigeria to benefit in US food security plan.

Reduce Hunger, Malnutrition & Poverty

The United States (US) has targeted twelve countries of the world including Nigeria to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition using the Global Food Security Act as strategies to achieve this as plans are already under way. This was contained in a statement signed by Jana.T Sweeny, Development Outreach and Communication specialist.

The other beneficiaries’ countries are Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, Niger, Mali, Ghana, Honduras, Guatemala, Nepal and Bangladesh.

 Already in Nigeria, preparation to achieve this may have begun according to the tune of a press release made available to Food Farm News stating that a two day workshop had been held in Lagos, Kano and Abuja last October towards articulating the best strategic approach to be deplored through inclusive and shared experiences from larger stakeholders including the media.

 

In view of the increasing population in the country as speculated by opinions, participants at the Abuja end of the workshop hailed the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID), the organizer of the interactive forum saying support to food security by American government would go a long way in mitigating hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria.

The content of the press release which was made available to us reads thus “The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) convened a broad spectrum of agricultural stakeholders to develop a shared vision for development of the sector under the U.S. government’s new Global Food Security Strategy. The U.S. Global Food Security Act authorizes a comprehensive, strategic approach for U.S. foreign assistance to reduce global poverty, hunger, and malnutrition in 12 target countries, including Nigeria”

“In two-day workshops held in Lagos, Kano, and Abuja from September 26 to October 11, some 180 participants examined the past, present, and future of agricultural and nutrition developments in the country; identified common objectives, and developed action plans to develop agriculture in Nigeria under the new strategy. Representatives came from academia, community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, financial institutions, value chain actors, agriculture and nutrition-related associations, government agencies, donor agencies, and media.

 

With these workshops, the United States has demonstrated its commitment to helping develop agriculture into a more diversified, inclusive and dynamic driver of economic development in Nigeria,” said Roseann Casey, USAID/Nigeria Director of Economic Growth and Environment. 

 

Participants discussed key issues including access to finance for farmers and other value chain actors, particularly women and youth.  Discussions addressed the need to strengthen market systems and value chains and improve access to agricultural inputs and training for farmer.  They also highlighted the importance of making healthy and nutritious food available and accessible, especially for lactating and pregnant mothers and children. Results from the consultative workshops will inform a new food security country plan for Nigeria”

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Jana T. Sweeny

Development Outreach and Communications Specialist (DOC)

USAID/Nigeria