By Palma Ileye
Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi has declared the Ministry’s readiness to partner with Propcom to increase productivity and improve nutrition and food security.
Abdullahi in a press release issued yesterday by FMAFS press Unit, made the declaration in a meeting with a team from Propcom, a UK FCDO funded programme, on Public Private Partnership for Animal Health Services in Nigeria led by Deputy British High Commissioner, Gill Lever, to his office in Abuja.
He revealed that the Propcom was an eight year programme, founded by the UK Government through her Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO, aimed to support climate resilient and sustainable agricultural and forestry that benefit people, climate and nature.
He also stated that the programme was aimed at transforming Nigeria’s rural economy by addressing environmental, social and economic challenges in the nation’s food and land use system and will work through strategic partnership with key market actors and support policies to increase productivity, improve nutrition and food security as well as reduce vulnerability to climate impact.
In his words, “We have a big task to revive the food system, and we are ready to have you as a partner to achieve the high priority placed on food security by Mr. President because agriculture is the key and animal health is very important.”
He noted that the country has an animal health support group which looks into the health of animals and farmers to reduce loss and improve productivity.
Abdullahi revealed that agriculture was no doubt a multi sector and needs more people to work together, saying, “We require more land, partnership, collaboration which is the key to achieve our aim in productivity, nutrition and food Security in Nigeria.”
He said that this move will support the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President and assured that the Ministry’s maximum cooperation.
He also urged propcom to look into pest control, stating that recently, there had been a serious attack on Ginger, which affected its productivity.
Speaking further, he said that Nutrition was very important to both animal and human, and the office of the Vice President held a summit recently in Abuja with the traditional and religious leaders to see how people would maintain a good balance diet and nutritional feeding.
According to him, “To have a healthy nation, you must have a healthy people.”
The Minister added that Mechanization was a sure way to help in productivity if it was made available, pointing out that, “We are in partnership with John Deere and Greener Hope in order to achieve the desired aim of Mr. President on food security.”
Earlier, in her remarks, the Deputy British High Commissioner, Gill Lever, said that Nigeria has been in a good relationship with UK for years now and that Propcom was a programme aimed at supporting resilience and sustainable agricultural and forestry that benefit people, climate and nature, provide support to different business modules, scale up access to animals and support new innovations.
Gill, therefore, solicited support from the Government for Animal Services, especially in the rural areas.
“We have been working with the Veterinary Department. We have been in rice production in the North. Propcom programme is a very versatile one,” she added.
