FG implementing NESP, NATIP as strategy for food resilience – Perm sec.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, has revealed that the Federal Government, through the ministry is implementing the prevailing frameworks of the National Economic Sustainability Plan and the Nigerian Agricultural Technology and Innovation Plan as strategy for food resilience and economic development.

Umakhihe stated this while speaking during the opening ceremony of the technical season of the 44th meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said despite the effects of COVID 19 on the nation’s economy, Agriculture sector is still identified and tasked as a springboard for the nation’s socio-economic recovery, stabilization and growth.

“Whichever the stage of the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our commitment is actually tied to the commodity value chain concept of strengthening sectoral linkages, import substitution initiatives, value-added processing and export-oriented activities in the country.

“Our collective activities are therefore, centered on enhancing research applications, machinery utilisation, extension services, input access, affordable credits, commodity output, processing capacity, market access and revenue earnings.

“Government efforts includes provision of merchinery, and inputs to farmers, training of extension agents on extension service delivery in crop, fishery and livestock value chain activities and then construction of mini-earth dam for irrigation activities,” he said.

Giving his lead paper titled: “Addressing Infrastructure Gaps and Food Security Challenges in Nigeria,” by Prof Gbolahun Ayoola, a Professor of Agricultural Economics and Policy (rtd) and President, Farm and Infrastructure Foundation (FIF), said the Federal Government has made giant strides towards infrastructure development in the area of roads; rails; waterways; airways taking advantage of the $1 billion Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), the $2 billion Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA); and the Nigeria Innovation Fund, yet agriculture only contributed 21% by 70% of population to the national economy while Food income dependence remains intolerably high; and Nigeria in the Global Hunger Index 2020 still remains 29.2%; which is 98th of 107 countries and in terms of undernourishment the country is 12.6%; Child wasting 6.8%; Child stunting 36.8%; Child mortality 12%; and Yobe and Borno are faced with food crisis. This according to him is unacceptable.