Food Security: Kogi gov’t reiterates commitment to boost agriculture

Story from Rabi’atu, Lokoja

Kogi State Government has reiterated commitment to ensure food security, wipe out hunger and poverty by giving adequate attention to the Agricultural sector.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, David Apeh, gave the assurance at a programme to commemorate the 2021 World Food Day titled: “Our Actions Our Future” in Lokoja.

The event was organised by ActionAid Nigeria in collaboration with the state Ministry of Agriculture.

The commissioner noted that government has demonstrated it’s commitment through timely payment of Counterpart Funds to development partners and donor agencies interventions in the Agricultural sector.

“Governor Yahaya Bello has done so much in the fight against hunger, poverty and diseases since he came on board through prompt payment of counterparts funding to international donor agencies in order to ensure and promote food security in the state”, he said.

According to him, the journey of the state’s agricultural development had been eventful and rewarding, assuring that the sector would continue to be the top priority of government now and in future.

The state commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Fatima Buba urged women in the state to key into agriculture as the sector serves the main source for human survival.

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She commended Governor Yahaya Bello’s efforts towards boosting agricultural activities in the state and thanked ActioinAid Nigeria for sponsoring this year’s World Food Day Celebration in the state.

The Kogi State Coordinator and National Auditor-General of Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria, (SWOFON) Hajia Safiya Yahaya expressed appreciation to the state for according women and youths recognition in agricultural sector.

She called for the implementation of the one hundred million Naira budgetary allocation to women farmers, saying that if released the fund will go a long way to bust food production in the state.

The representative of ActionAid Nigeria, Halima Oyiza Sadiq, said the programme was part of the organisation’s commitment towards ensuring food security  sustainability and development of agricultural sector in the state.

She noted that the outbreak of covid-19 pandemic created unforseen circumstances with huge negative impacts particularly on agriculture, the need to bridge the gap through food production cannot be over emphasized.

Halima Oyiza further called on relevant stakeholders in the agricultural value chain to chart the way forward and collectively build synergy towards building a sustainable agricultural sector in the state.

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