Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi has harped on the necessity to utilise technological tools to boost food and nutrition security.
Speaking during the Africa Agric Machines Equipment and Technology Expo (AAMETEX 2023) with the theme “Transforming Africa’s Agriculture through Technology and Innovation,” the Minister said that the expo was aimed at exposing African farmers to mechanised farming, increase direct agricultural foreign investments and foreign exchange earnings, create new businesses, among others.
He noted that “there is a nexus between technological growth and food security, modern agricultural products equipment meant to improve efficiency in production and processing.”
Sen. Abdullahi pointed out that the forum would identify opportunities for collaboration and partnerships with other stakeholders and proffer solutions to the current and future challenges faced by the agricultural sector in the continent.
He further said that it would provide a platform for discussions on economic, political and social landscape, impacts on the growth of the agricultural sector in Africa, build relationships across agencies and all spheres of government to accommodate technology and innovation.
Sen. Abullahi recalled that the present administration led by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR, came on the mantra of ‘Food Security, Fighting Corruption and Economic Growth’ and as such, the Agricultural Sector was identified to be fundamental in driving the economic diversification and growth.
The Minister revealed that the Ministry was working with local and international Companies, engaging in bi-lateral and multilateral agreements such as Brazil Government and other international Agro-machinery companies aimed at providing basic Agricultural machinery to Nigerian farmers.
He stated that “under the Brazilian bilateral agreement, 10,000 tractors and 50,000 processing equipment are expected to be imported in Completely Knocked Down (CKD) and will be distributed to all the Local Government Areas of the Federation.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Ernest Umakhihe represented by the Director Special Duties, Mrs Fausat Lawal stated that the forum would contribute to the production and processing of agricultural raw materials and development of agri-food value chain.
He added that it would also promote the growth of the agro-industrial sector and export of food products made in Nigeria and add value from primary processing to secondary product in line with international standard.