Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono has called for more commitment to the development of the agricultural sector for increased and enhanced food production.
He made the call at the National Commodity Alliance Forum organised by the Ministry in collaboration with the International Funds for Agricultural Development, IFAD.
The Forum brought together government officials and stakeholders in the agricultural value chain including farmers. They met to dialogue and see if the breakthrough made in the rice subsector through the six-year existence of the Value Chain Development Programme, VCDP could be replicated on cassava production and value chain.
For Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, a lot needs to be done in the development of the Agriculture sector for it to return as the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. He charged key actors at various levels to take the matter of Agriculture more seriously.
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IFAD National Coordinator for Value Chain Development Programme, Garba Bala, emphasised that the programme’s overall goal is geared toward rural poverty reduction and accelerated economic growth on a sustainable and inclusive basis.
He maintained that the programme has successfully enhanced the productivity and profitability of over 63,000 smallholder farmers and small or medium-scale agro-processors particularly women and youths by improving their access to market capacity to increase yield.
The theme: for the event is “Enhancing Productivity and Market Opportunities for Cassava Value Chain”.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
