Posted on May, 28, 2024 at 09:04 am
The Federal Government and African Development Bank (AfDB) have urged African countries to synergise towards addressing challenges facing the agriculture sector and harness its potential for the continent’s prosperity.
This was as Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State flagged off the disbursement of $250,000 World Bank-facilitated Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) loan to farmers from 10 communities in the state.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, gave the charge at the launch of a regional chapter of the Incorporated Society of Planters (ISP) in Africa, at the weekend, in Abuja.
The ISP aimed at promoting value addition in farming and promoting the general interest of the planting profession.
Kyari said the occasion marked a significant milestone in the development of the agriculture sector, not only in Nigeria but across the continent, especially in the areas of tackling food insecurity.
In his keynote, the Embed Advisor, Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships, AfDB, Richard-Mark Mbaram, said the launch aligned perfectly with the bank’s objectives.
According to him, by bringing together agriculture experts, industry stakeholders, policymakers and researchers, the ISP fosters a collaborative environment that promotes innovation, knowledge sharing and adoption of sustainable agriculture practices.
Mbaram further stated that by supporting initiatives such as the ISP Africa chapter, the AfDB would leverage agricultural development as a catalyst for broader economic transformation across the continent.
Chairman ISP Africa, Dr Shermal Perera, said they would focus on educating farmers on crops of their choice to develop agriculture in Nigeria.
Also, the Proterm Vice Chairman of ISP Africa, Fatai Afolabi, said in the context of Africa, they were targeting farmers all over the continent, to be able to impact them through value addition by building their capacities.
The ACReSAL project is World Bank-assisted, in collaboration with the Federal Government and Nasarawa.
Speaking at the event in Doma Local Council, the governor said the disbursement was in line with the vision of the state and Federal Government to support farmers to boost production.
Sule added that the state government recently distributed 23 tractors and farm inputs to 10,000 farmers in the state to support farming.
Task Team Leader of ACReSAL Dr Joy Iganya-Agene, said 620 farmers, comprising 367 men and 253 women from the 10 communities of the two councils, were given interest-free loans.
Iganya-Agene, who is also a Senior Environmental Specialist of the World Bank Nigeria Office, listed the communities in Doma to include Ohiha, Madative, Odurigya, Yalwa and Alagye, while those from Toto are Zolo, Umasha, Dereegba, Ayiwawa and Sere.
Source: The Guardian