Oyo Seeks Ideas on Sustainability of Food Value Chains, Others

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The Oyo State government has called on stakeholders in the agricultural sector to come up with ideas and suggestions that would lead to improved productivity, profitability and sustainability of the food value chains in the state.

This appeal was made by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Adeniyi Adebisi, in a statement issued over the weekend to commemorate the 2021 World Food Day.

He said the government of Governor Seyi Makinde was determined to support farmers and youths in the state in a bid to achieve food sustenance and sufficiency.

According to the Commissioner, Mr Makinde will leave no stone unturned in order to bring the theme for this year’s World Food Day, Our Actions are our future; Better production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and a Better Life, to reality.

Mr Adebisi, therefore, reassured Oyo State farmers and other stakeholders in the sector of an enabling environment government was creating to improve the industry in order to subdue poverty, hunger and promote healthy diets in the state.

The Commissioner noted that World Food Day presents an opportunity to appreciate what the state government has been able to do to ensure food sufficiency and the encouragement of local food content consumed in the state.

According to him, every October 16, World Food Day is celebrated across the globe as initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, as an international day for the eradication of poverty, in which Nigeria is a member.

The statement further explained that the main objective of the celebration is to heighten public awareness on the problems of hunger, malnutrition, and poverty, as well as proffer solutions to problems of agriculture and food production.

In Nigeria, organisations and individuals involved in feeding programmes connect with other stakeholders in food production, agro-allied industries, wholesalers and community-based organisations to address food security challenges during this celebration.