Olaseinde Gbenga, Abuja
Sequel to improve food production and increase support to smallholder farmers, the Federal Government on Friday, in Abuja, has immediately launched a new policy labeled National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), which is to be implemented across the country between 2022-2027.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammed Abubakar, stated that the initiative would enhance the adoption of new technologies by small-scale farmers to boost food consumption and export.
According to the Minister, the six years policy is focused to accelerate import substitution with particular emphasis on reduction of rice, diary and fish importation through sustainable development of national technological and innovative capacity.
The policy would further increase resilience in digital agriculture, thereby promoting potential value chains and agricultural investment.
He pointed that, NATIP 2022-2027 was premised on 10 thematic areas, these include: Stakeholders Synergy and Alignment, Knowledge Creation and Transfer, Rapid Mechanisation, Agricultural Development Fund Establishment, Extension Service Delivery Revitalisation and Livestock Development.
Others are Priority Crop Value Chain Strengthening, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Marine and Inland Fisheries Development, Market Development and Agricultural Lands and Investments Partnership.
Meanwhile, the United States Agency for International Development(USAID) disclosed that the United States Government would support Nigeria with $55m in mitigating the effects on global food Crisis.
The Deputy Mission Director, USAID, Sarah Werth, lauded the initiative of the Federal Government, adding that the NATIP came at a time Nigeria and the world were challenged with food security crisis, and fertilizer prices had risen over the last years.
She noted that the global food crisis has exacerbated due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. To that end, President Joe Biden has committed $2.76bn in US Government funding to address the global food crisis.
Also, the Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Abuja Office, Prof. Lateef Sani, called for an all-inclusive implementation of the policy. This would help improve some of the current gaps in food security.
Speaking at the event, the Acting Programme Leader of the International Food Policy (IFPRI), Dr. Bedru Balana, said the new policy would help to improve food production, increase support to smallholder farmers, improve value chain development and also household income and livelihoods.