Food Security; Actionaid Nigeria tells Stakeholders to be innovative, proactive to end hunger.
ActionAid Nigeria has tasked actors in the Agriculture value chain to chart way forward towards addressing food security challenges.
The Executive Director of Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change Halima Oiza Sadiq, made the disclosure at the 2021 World Food Day Celebration Organised by Small Scale Women Farmers Organization of in Nigeria in Collaboration with Kogi State Ministry of Agriculture.
The World Food Day Celebration held in the State was in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria and Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change had “Our actions are our future, better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life” as its theme.
The PIBCID Executive Director who was represented by Mrs Inikpi Adejoh Momoh, called for a global platform for producers, processors, off takers as well consumers to collectively engage in policies that would address food security challenges for effective market systems development in the Agriculture value chain.
While noting that the outbreak of covid-19 pandemic created unforseen circumstances with huge negative impacts particularly the Agriculture sector, said the need to bridge the gap through food production cannot be over emphasized.
She called on key stakeholders in the Agriculture value chain to chart the way forward and collectively build synergy towards a sustainable agriculture Programs and projects.
Earlier Kogi State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. David Apeh, while declaring the 2021 World Food Day Celebration open, assured that the State Government would continue to do much in fighting hunger by promoting food sufficiency and its security.
The Commissioner noted that towards making food security a topmost priority, the State Government he disclosed would continue to sustain the payment of counterparts funding in areas that would boost food production.
While noting that the State is not only working hard to produce food crops, the Commissioner disclosed that it has equally placed emphasis on the production of Acquaculture, with farms in Idah, Geregu, Adavi Eba and Eijba amongst other areas in the State towards improving the nutritional needs of the citizens.
He noted that the State Government is building on its comparative advantages of having the ability to cultivate majority of crops, promised sustained priority in areas of food production towards fighting hunger.
In her remarks, the State Chairperson of Small Scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria, Hajia Sefiya Y. Yahaya, expressed satisfaction that women constitute 75% of the farming population in the State, commended the present administration of Gov. Yahaya Bello for its regular payment of counterparts funds in the areas of Agriculture.
In a remarks, the Kogi State Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, disclosed that the association has secured a 5000 hectres of land for cassava production, disclosed that soon the State would be known as the home of cassava production in Nigerian.
In a presentation, on Our Actions to the future in Kogi State, by Mrs Oyewole Lydia, described agriculture as the mainstay of Kogi State, lauded the role of women in agriculture to include production, processing and marketing of priority crops value chain.
She added that the role of women in agriculture include engaging in planting, weeding, fertilizer application, disclosed that 80% of post harvest handling, up to the marketing activities is done by the women.
Mrs Oyewole urged women to sustain the gains achieved in the FADAMA, Appeals project.
The 2021 World Food Day Celebration held in the banquet hall of Glass House Government House, had the Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Commissioner’s for Women Affairs and Social Development, and that of Youths and Sports Development, amongst others in attendance.
