By Sodeinde Temidayo David
President Muhammadu Buhari has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to focus and continue to invest massively in food security in the country as a way to enhance agricultural productivity.
This was revealed by the Nigerian leader on Thursday at the food system summit in New York, where he stated that national food security, nutrition knowledge dissemination, skills development and information management systems were paramount to his administration.
The President said Nigeria had developed a food system focused development agenda that is based on healthy diets and affordable nutrition, noting that it would contribute to rebuilding the economy, creating jobs and spurring growth across sectors while sustaining the ecosystems.
“Following the recommendations from the dialogues and our plan to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within a decade, Nigeria is committed to investing in food security and nutrition knowledge dissemination, skills development, and information management systems.
“This is also to enhance agricultural productivity, building sustainable, responsive, and inclusive food systems,” he stated.
According to President Buhari, the initiative is set to enhance the productivity of smallholder farmers and empower women and youths for greater access to food production.
Also, it is to strengthen climate mitigation strategies and conflict early warning systems that will reduce the many stresses and shocks to the country’s food systems.
The Nigerian leader added that the plan was the outcome of a wide range of stakeholder engagement geared towards a better understanding of their food systems, experiences and needs.
The President commended the initiative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for convening the Summit, calling it a bold step towards achieving the 2030 global development Agenda at a time COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant consequences are threatening progress.
He stressed that Nigeria was working to transform its food systems and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the 2030 Agenda.
He further expressed optimism, in a hope to learn from, and collaborate with member states that have handled or are handling food systems concerns similar to Nigeria’s.
The 2030 agenda is set to end extreme poverty and hunger, realise the human rights of all, achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, and ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources.
