Group Picture during the World food day/ Agric Show |
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to
create jobs for million of Nigerian youth through E-wallet System; which will
reduce unemployment, increase productivity and ensure sustainable development.
The Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief
Audu Ogbeh, disclosed this during the flagging-off Agric Show/ Farms Exhibition
organized as part of the activities to mark
the October 16, 2018 World Food Day celebration in Abuja-Keffi Nasarawa
State.; the theme of this year’s agric show is, “Strategies for Promoting
Export of Agricultural Products”.
The Hon. Minister said that the Green Alternative is an
agriculture policy initiated by Federal Government aimed at promoting
agriculture,attract private sector, create jobs for youth, ensure food security
and provide value addition in agricultural sector.
Hon. Minister also
stated that zero hunger is achievable; call on all the partners and
stakeholders to join forces across board to ensure adequate founding, provision
of seeds and fruits to stimulate agribusiness in order to ensure effective
extension services and delivery.
The Hon. Minister who was represented by the Permanent
Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Abdulkadir Mu’azu, further disclosed that the
Green Alternative Policy has started yielding benefits to the economy; the rice
revolution has granted food security to some extent; with huge reduction on
rice importation and actualization of self-sufficiency in food production.
He stated that this year’s World Food Day Celebration
coincided with the 70th anniversary of Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) and 40th anniversary of its existence in Nigeria in
which the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration
with the National Agriculture Foundation of Nigeria and All Farmers Association
of Nigeria showcase the National Agricultural potentials to mark the
celebration.
In his address at the occasion, the Country Representative of
the United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Nigeria, Mr.
Suffyan Koroma, stated that the concept of Zero Hunger is broader and not limited
to the fight against undernourishment, asit also aims to provide people with
the necessary nutrients for a healthy life.
The Country Representative who saw the FAO agenda of Zero
Hunger in 2030 which is aimed at eradication of hunger and ensure sustainable
development,disclosed that global hunger has rapidly grown in recent time,
adding thatthe latest estimates of undernourished people in the World increased
in 2017, for the third consecutive year. He said last year, 821 million people
suffered from hunger (11 percent of the World population- one in nine people on
the planet), most of them are farmers living in poor rural areas of sub-Saharan
African and Southeast Asia; the FAO agenda of
Zero Hunger in 2030 will eradicate hunger and ensure sustainable
development globally.
The National President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria
(AFAN), Arc. Kabiru Ibrahim in his goodwill message, appreciated the efforts of
the Ministry in making this year’s event a successful one, adding that farmers
are ecstatic and encourage to do their utmost best to ensure actualization of
food security and sustainable development. He stated,that the country was to
make bomber harvest despite flooding experience in many parts of the country
this year.
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