By Ebriku John Friday
In a bid to address the issues of food insecurity in Nigeria and alleviate poverty, create job opportunities and inclusiveness of youth and women in the agriculture sector, the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, CON, has formerly flagged off the 2023 National Agricultural show.
Speaking at the event held at National Agricultural Showground, Nassarawa State on Tuesday, 21st November 2023, with the theme, “Towards the Realization of Presidential Declaration of Emergency on Food Security”, the Minister revealed that the show was geared towards showcasing Nigeria’s abundant agricultural potentials, resources and products, consolidating past achievements, identifying challenges faced by the sector and charting the way forward for the development of agriculture in Nigeria.
A release by Charity Ezekwesiri, Principal Information Officer in the ministry revealed that, the Minister who represented the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, noted that the choice of this year’s theme was relevant, as it accentuates not just the goal of the Show but brings to mind the, priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration that are core to the mandates of the Ministry.
He pointed out that “we commit to ensuring that all programmes and initiatives of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security are completely aligned to attaining the four Presidential priorities”.
He stated that agriculture was fundamental for food security and ensuring sustainable and resilient food systems.
Sen. Kyari, therefore used the opportunity to assure all stakeholders that, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated total political will to transform the Agriculture sector of our dear country by making food security the number one Presidential priority of his Agenda.
He pointed out that addressing issues of food security, requires the coordinated support and meaningful engagement of stakeholders, towards delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President. The Minister noted that the Ministry aims to engage with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and State Governments towards addressing all issues impacting the attainment of our national food security objectives.
“We also remain committed to promoting and creating synergies between Non-Governmental Organizations and the private sector to enhance efforts at ensuring food security, economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction in line with the Presidential Priorities”, he added.
Speaking further, the Minister highlighted the immediate and short term plans, which entails developing a standard framework and guide for ease of doing Agriculture and Food Security operations/projects/business in Nigeria.
He revealed that a robust stakeholder analysis that would produce a working stakeholder map showing who does what, where and how and what are the mutually beneficial areas for the smallholder farmers, large scale farmers, processors, marketers and organized private sector was already being worked out.
Sen. Kyari, therefore, noted that Agricultural Shows have had a long history worldwide, emphasizing that activities in the events present spin-off benefits to the gathering of all stakeholders in the sector by serving as high-level platforms for business linkage, technology transfer, knowledge exchange, public-private collaboration and policy discourse among participants drawn from all walks of life.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule represented by the Deputy Governor Emmanuel Akabe stated that the event was very critical one that would restore past glory of the nation in order to achieve food security. He noted the Nasarawa Governor had distributed fertilizer to households, adequate irrigation and arable for varieties of crops.
In his remarks, the National Coordinator, National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria, NAFN, Dr. Samuel Negedu, stated that 2023 show would feature a grand opening ceremony and farmers’ parade, agricultural produce and products exhibitions, seminar, interactive sessions, displays of assorted agricultural equipment among others.
He encouraged stakeholders to take advantage of friendly environment of the Show to establish business contacts and relationships that would be long-lasting and mutually beneficial.
Highlight of the event was the Hon. Minister’s inspection of various Agricultural products.
