Story from Abdullahi TUKUR, Birnin Kebbi

The Federal Government of Nigeria is planning to partner with Master Bakers associations to engage them on the adoption of forty per cent Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) puree in the production of bread in the country.

The Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hajiya Karima Babangida, stated this during a North-West stakeholder meeting on the adoption and utilisation of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP), Value Chain organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, held in Birnin Kebbi.

The Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hajiya Karima Babangida, who was represented by Engr. Ubandoma Ularamu, Regional Director North West, FMARD, said the objective of convening the stakeholders meeting was to create a forum for the stakeholders and major actors in the potato value chain, to chart a way forward for the realization of the fullest potentials locked up in potato production, processing, utilization and marketing.

Hajiya Babangida, urged various research institutes, agencies and development partners with mandates on the potato value chain to work assiduously to create solutions to the numerous challenges, by setting the value chain with new technologies and innovations to further improve the production of sweet potato in the country.

According to her, several challenges have been identified in the potato value chain starting from the seed system protocols to the marketing of the products.

The Kebbi State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Maigari Abdullahi, also assured of the state government commitment to assist in the fight against hunger, address food security and nutrition in the country.

The Commissioner explains that the state has been liaising with the state branch of the National Potato Association of Nigeria. Whereby the Ministry has been educated on the variety of the potato, hence the need for its promotion statewide.

He said the state government was in full support of the potato crop whereby arrangements are advanced to support about eight hundred farmers during the year 2021 wet season.

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