FG, Sasakawa sign MoU on technology transfer

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) with the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAASG2000) towards increased agricultural productivity. This was contained in a press release issued by Ezeaja Ikemefuna on behalf of Director of Information in the ministry.

 It was stated in the release that the MoU was to deepen, expand, consolidate and sustain the developed and proven extension models being delivered to Nigerian smallholders’ farmers towards achieving economic objectives enshrined in the Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP) of the ministry.

The FMARD and Sasakawa collaboration implementation strategy was further reviewed to achieve better results under six thematic areas  namely, Post-Harvest and Agro Processing(PHAP), Crop Productivity Enhancement (CPE), Monitoring Evaluation Learning and Sharing (MELS),Sasakawa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE) and Management.

Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono, said that the collaboration would improve the extension capacity of staff towards assisting smallholders’ farmer in best agronomics practices for higher productivity in Nigeria.

Alhaji Nanono also noted that the collaboration would focus on transfer of  tested and acceptable technological packages on selected agricultural commodity value chains saying it would also benefit commercially oriented smallholder farmers “particularly women and youths and ultimately improve the country’s agricultural productivity and production, food security and nutrition, as well as  bring about the reduction of post- harvest losses.”

He pledged that the Federal Government’s support for Sasakawa initiatives in Nigeria was in line with President Muhammad Buhari’s Next Level Agenda of achieving food security and economic growth in Nigeria.

The Executive Director, NIPPON Foundation, Japan’s largest private philanthropic organization and the major financing institution backing Sasakawa, Ichiro Kabasawa, said that the organization would lead in influencing the inclusive transformation of African Agriculture towards empowering smallholder-farmers and sustaining increased productivity and income in response to market demand.

He added that Nigeria has the potential to do more by increasing its investments in nutrition and help to secure the health and well-being of mothers and children, stating that it would lead to better economic growth for the country.

Kabasawa informed that ‘’ as at December 2018, the program promoted demand – driven and value – chain – oriented curriculum in 26 institutions (24 universities and two agricultural colleges), across nine African countries including Nigeria’’

He added that in 2019, “Sasakwa Africa Association (SAA) has made a strategic shift that allows organization changes to make SAA interventions more effective and efficient with better synergy and coordination.’’   

 Earlier in her welcome address, the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture Extension, Mrs Karima Babangida, pointed out that the collaboration would enhance productivity and strengthening extension service delivery for 2018/2019 cropping season in six existing states namely Ogun (rice and cassava), Cross River (rice and cassava), Katisna (Maize and Cotton), Anambra (Rice and cassava) Gombe (rice maize) and Kogi (Cassava). 

She further informed that six Universities namely: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Bayero University Kano, Adamawa State University , University of llorin, Kwara, Federal University ,Dutse, Usmanu Danfodio University ,Sokoto have also  benefitted from the collaboration under SAFE thematic area.