FG, stakeholders validate national soybean expansion strategy
By Felicia Imohimi
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Commodities Development Initiative (CDI) and other stakeholders, has validated the National Soybean Expansion Strategy aimed at increasing Nigeria’s soybean production by an additional 460,000 metric tonnes.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, made this known at a national workshop on the Validation of the National Soybean Expansion Strategy on Wednesday in Abuja.
Kyari, who was represented by Mr Ibrahim Alkali, Senior Technical Adviser, said the ministry is prioritising value chain development that is private sector-driven, food-secure, and export-oriented.
He assured participants of the ministry’s commitment to providing the necessary policy and institutional support to drive the strategy forward and lauded the inclusive, action-oriented approach taken in its formulation.
“We must treat soybean as a strategic commodity. It is vital for nutrition, livestock feed, and foreign exchange.
“I am pleased with the direction this strategy is taking. Let us ensure that implementation is led by the private sector, but with strong government backing,” he said.
The minister also directed relevant departments within the ministry to integrate the strategy into national planning frameworks and align its goals with broader agro-industrial policies.
Mr Roland Oroh, Managing Director of CDI emphasised the collaborative and multi-stakeholder nature of the strategy.
He said the objective of the validation was to scale up Nigeria’s soybean production by an additional 460,000 metric tonnes.
This, he noted, could be achieved through a coordinated approach focused on enhancing productivity, expanding cultivated areas, improving processing capacity, and opening up both domestic and export markets.
According to him, the soybean expansion strategy is a practical roadmap developed with contributions from farmers, processors, exporters, investors, and government actors.
“The next phase is implementation, and that begins now with commitment from all parties involved,” Oroh said.
He noted that the workshop brought together key public and private stakeholders in the soybean value chain.
Oroh explained that the partnership would mobilise investments, strengthen farmer linkages, support agro-industrial processing, and position Nigeria as a competitive source of non-GMO soybeans.
A major highlight of the workshop was the signing of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework under the Nigeria Soybean Partnership, led by a coalition of stakeholders.
The stakeholders were tasked with implementing the strategy and coordinating interventions across the entire soybean value chain.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in partnership with the National Soybean Association of Nigeria, Oil Seed Processors Association of Nigeria, and CDI.
Other collaborators included the Dawanu Market Development Association. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Gregg Mmaduakolam/Tosin Kolade
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