Sun. Nov 10th, 2024

From TCNEWS

Abia State has joined the global community in commemorating World Food Day, with a call for decisive action to combat hunger and improve
food security.

The event, held at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia, brought together stakeholders from across the agricultural sector and an exhibition of farm produce to reflect on the year’s theme, “Right to Food, For a Better Life and a Better Future.”

Speaking during the event, the Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has enjoined stakeholders in the agricultural sector to support efforts in the fight against hunger and food insecurity.

Governor Otti who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Kenneth Kalu, said the event reminds citizens of the importance of food to humanity and the need to go back to farm to ensure food sustainability and availability.

He reassured that the State Government is willing to partner the people, especially Farmers who have good initiative to enhance Agricultural sector in the state.

The Governor said that the renewed engagement is to enhance food security and support the development of Agricultural sector in the State.

In his address, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Clifford Agbeze, said that the day serves as a call to action for policy makers and stake holders in the agricultural sector to collaborate, in order to achieve the objective of the founding fathers of Agriculture and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

He emphasized the urgency of tackling food insecurity, which remains a major global challenge.

He referenced the 2023 Global Report on Food Crisis (GRFC), which found that 282 million people in 59 countries faced acute food insecurity, with Nigeria among the most severely affected.

“UNICEF has reported that 25 million Nigerians are at high risk of food insecurity, driven by conflict, climate change, and economic shocks,” Dr. Agbaeze stated.

The Commissioner, who highlighted the role of smallholder farmers in addressing this crisis, stressed that these farmers contribute up to 80 percent of Nigeria’s agricultural output, yet they face significant challenges.

His words, “Smallholder farmers in Abia State and Nigeria as a whole are the unsung heroes of the country’s food production”.

However, he noted that these farmers struggle with limited access to credit, insufficient market linkages, and vulnerability to climate shocks, which hinder their ability to meet the country’s food needs.

Dr. Agbeze said that the present administration has implemented various intervention programs to ameliorate the huge burdens on farmers, adding that the Governor Otti has approved fund disbursement to 298 CSC Trainees,who underwent training on Agricultural value chain techniques at CSC, Nasarawa State.

In their Goodwill messages,the Vice Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe, represented by DVC, Academics, Professor Franca Asawalam, Dean, College of Agricultural Economics, Rural Sociology and Extension, MOUAU Prof Nnanna Mba and Director, Small Holders Oil Palm, Mr. Maraizu Chiemela, said that investing in Agriculture enhances food production, promotes food security and ensures insecticide and pest control management.

In a brief speech, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Ijeoma Adanma Aguwa, who pointed out that the state government encourages sustainable varieties of improved crops and diversity to provide nutritional requirements for various communities, called for collaboration from stakeholders to ensure that everyone has access to nutritious food and eradicate hunger once and for all.

While also disclosing that the State is actively involved in the production of Rice, Local beans, Cassava, and maize which serve to boost food nutrition security in the state and improve citizens’ rights to food, she said that the Ministry has been active in the decontamination of major Poultry Markets in the state, thereby protecting the livelihood of Abia Poultry Farmers through Bio-security and Disease Control.

Highlights of the event were the exhibition of farm plants and farm produce by Farmers, cultural dance by the Ministry of Agricultural Women Association, while the event attracted the presence of the State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Aloysius Mba among other stakeholders in the Agricultural sector.

By NWAMARA

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