WORLD FOOD DAY 2018

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Nigeria Kicks Off
Celebration With Sensitization Walk In Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria has
reiterated its commitment to promote and
develop agriculture as key factor to Nigeria’s
economic growth and development.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, gave the
commitment today during the sensitization
walk which kicked off the activities for the
2018 World Food Day celebration with the
theme“Our Actions are our Future. A Zero
Hunger by the year 2030 is possible” in
Abuja.
The Minister noted that the policy of the
current administration in the agriculture
sector is founded on a number of principles
which include treating agriculture as
business; food as human right; adoption of
value chain approach and prioritizing crops;
factoring climate change and environmental
sustainability to agricultural production;
encouraging the practice of nutrition-sensi
tive agriculture as well as linking agriculture
with other sectors of the economy.
Represented by the Director, Planning, Policy
Coordination and Monitoring Department in
the Ministry - Mr. Nasiru Adamu, the Minister
said various policies of the current
administration in the agricultural sector
have started to yield fruits especially in the
area of rice production, a development
which is making Nigeria to become self-
sufficient in rice production, “It is now
evident that we are on the path to
becoming self- sufficient in rice production.
Indeed I have no doubt in my mind that
Nigeria can be a model for Africa and the
world if we join forces and act on evidence.
No nation in the world can attain food
security if it depends on food importation”,
he stated.
Ogbeh assured that the Ministry is working
assiduously to achieve zero hunger in the
country through the introduction of various
initiatives like provision of fertilizers and
other inputs, reduction of post- harvest
losses and the expansion of market access.
He did not forget to mention the deepening
of financial sector engagement with
agribusiness value chains and improvement
of ease of doing agribusiness in Nigeria’s
Agriculture sector.
Chief Ogbeh also congratulated the Food
and Agriculture Organization, FAO, on the
70th anniversary of the establishment of
FAO as an Organization and 40th
Anniversary of its existence and remarkable
achievements in Nigeria.
He described this year’s theme as apt
especially with the impact of climate change
on food production and food security all
over the world, saying that, zero hunger can
only be achieved if government, private
sector and development partners work in
collaboration to fight hunger, extreme
poverty and malnutrition.
In his remarks at the occasion, the Country
Representative of Food and Agriculture
organization (FAO), Mr. Suffyan Koroma said
for Nigeria to be free from hunger by year
2030 requires effective legislation,
development in energy, transportation,
education and legal framework among
others are to be put in place for agriculture
sector to survive and achieve zero hunger in
the nearest future.
“Nigeria should be free from hunger by the
year 2030. But that does not rest in
agriculture as we know it, it goes beyond
Agriculture we have to look to other
complimentary services of agriculture, they
are equally variables as what we produce
from the farm. If we produce without
adding value, it does not make sense. How
do we control animal diseases, pests,
conflicts, flooding are the issues to be
considered” he stated.
He also explained that his organization
which has its Nigeria’s office since forty
years ago and has been contributing in area
of crop farming, livestock, forestry, fishing,
among others.
Other activities lined up to mark this year’s
World Food Day celebration include Quiz
competition among secondary schools in
FCT; Symposium/ Photo Book Exhibition;
Unity Food Fair and National Youth Summit
while the Agricultural Show / Exhibition will
round up the activities on October 16, 2018
at Km 28, Abuja Keffi Express Way, Tundun
Wada, Nassarawa state.

WORLD FOOD DAY 2018

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