By Rita Iliya
The Niger state government says it will host the 10th edition of the Nutritious Food Fair to promote sustainable food systems and nutrition in the state.
Alhaji Musa Bawa-Bosso, state Commissioner for Agriculture, disclosed this during a press conference in Minna.
He said that the event would be in partnership with HarvestPlus and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).
He said the two-day event would hold on Dec. 10 to Dec. 11, with the theme, “Sustainable Food Systems: Our Collective Responsibility”.
Bawa-Bosso noted that the fair was part of the state’s efforts to foster a vibrant agricultural sector, and provide supportive environment for investments in nutritious foods.
“This milestone edition will bring together policymakers, researchers, farmers, SME’s and food processors to showcase innovations.
“(They will also) exchange knowledge, and address the latest developments in nutritious foods,” he said.
He disclosed that over 100 exhibitors, government officials, private sector leaders, and over 5,000 attendees were expected.
The commissioner said the fair would serve as a platform for collective engagement, job creation, and business connections in the nutritious food sector.
Also, Dr Yusuf Fuad, Country Director of HarvestPlus, said the fair would address nutrition challenges by bringing together critical stakeholders within the food and agricultural value chains.
He said that the stakeholders would engage and advocate for improve nutrition sector investment across all levels.
He said that the event would add value to the state’s economy and support small businesses and strengthen the value chain.
“Women will receive special attention, with a focus on improving healthy diets.
“A job creation clinic will also be set up, targeting young unemployed individuals to take advantage of suitable job opportunities and become self-reliant,” he said.
Similarly, Dr Matthew Ahmed, Permanent Secretary, Niger Ministry of Agriculture, said the event would feature cooking competition across the three geopolitical zones.
He added that the event would have significant impact on the state’s economy and youth employment, with over 6,000 jobs expected to be created for young people.
Also, Mr Lachang Faden, Project Manager Biofortification, GAIN, said that the 2024 national demographic report said that 40 per cent of Nigerian children are stunted.
He added that the event would be used to create awareness on consumption of nutrient foods. (NAN)
Ms Rakiya Sadiq’s story is an inspiration for youths especially women in agriculture.
Sadiq, a beneficiary of the Golden Morn Agripreneurship Programme of Nestle Nigeria PLC, through her farm, is contributing to ensuring food security and reducing hunger in the country.
A graduate of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Sadiq is the Chief Executive Officer of Zulru Integrated Farms, an integrated farm company into the cultivation of cereal crops and livestock, located in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Her business was incorporated in January 2021 in Jos, Plateau State, before extending to Bauchi.
Necessitated by the need to be self-employed and contribute to increasing food produce, Sadiq said she went into agriculture, focusing on cereal crops like maize, rice, and soya beans, as well as livestock.
According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), increasing food demand is a major concern in Nigeria as prices increases worsen poverty.
Worrisome is also the fact that the Food and Agriculture Organisation estimated that approximately 22 million Nigerians would face food insecurity in 2023, with about 80 to 82 million being at risk of severe insecurity by 2030.
The indices get scarier as in 2024, Nigeria is expected to see about 26.5 million people dealing with high levels of food insecurity.
Many factors including continued conflict, climate change, and inflation and rising food prices are key drivers of this alarming trend.
However, the corporate programme – Golden Morn Agripreneurship Webinar Series, a collaborative initiative between the Golden Morn brand and the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan Atlantic University, aims to promote sustainable food systems by increasing youth engagement in the agricultural sector.
The programme, sponsored by Nestle Nigeria Plc, also provides seed grants support for young entrepreneurs within the age range of 18 to 35, who are already engaged or set up a business in the agricultural sector.
In 2023, 25 young agripreneurs emerged as winners of the Agripreneurship programme, and seed funds of N500,000 were presented to them to scale their businesses.
Some beneficiaries of 2023 Golden Morn Agripreneurship Programme of Nestle Nigeria PLC
The presentation of grants to the successful Agripreneurs, Mr Wassim Elhusseini, the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Nigeria Plc, emphasised the pivotal role of youth involvement in agriculture for building sustainable food systems.
“To establish sustainable food systems, we must ensure youth participation in agriculture.
“Nestlé is, therefore, dedicated to helping young people develop the capabilities and skills they need to drive innovation in agriculture.
“Today, as we celebrate and empower the 25 agribusinesses who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and passion for shaping the future, we are delighted with the positive impact of the continuous investment by Golden Morn.”
The Category and Marketing Manager of Golden Morn, Ifeanyichukwu Orabuche, during the presentation of the grants to 25 agricultural entrepreneurs, said that developing farmers was essential for better agricultural practice.
According to Orabuche, the agriculture sector is one of the most viable sectors of the Nigerian society.
However, she decried that the average age of the Nigerian farmer was between ages 60 and 65 years, and that it posed a challenge to the agricultural value chain.
Consequently, she urged the beneficiaries to be more productive and sustainable in their business.
“As agripreneurs, you are employers of labour and that is why Nestle has decided to invest in your business. As a business, we all exist in an ecosystem.
“I am a firm believer in Nigeria’s commonwealth and I believe that the only way Nigerians would move forward is through the country’s collective commonwealth whether in agriculture, healthcare, or education.
“Everyone regardless of your income would share that common wealth. For us to coexist, we need to make sure the cycle continues.”
Evaluating the impact of the programme, the Project and Finance Manager of the Enterprise Development Centre, Pan Atlantic University, Obianuju Okafor, in a statement, said the average age of the Nigerian farmer was between ages 60 and 65 years.
Okafor added that this posed a challenge to the agricultural value chain.
According to her, the Enterprise Development Center is thrilled to partner with Golden Morn to provide essential skills and knowledge to young agripreneurs.
“The Webinar Series has been impacting individuals and businesses since 2021 with a focus on best practices in agribusiness.
“This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to empower and enhance the offerings of aspiring agripreneurs, contributing to the growth and sustainability of the agricultural sector.”
On some of the challenges encountered in agriculture and businesses generally, Sadiq highlighted lack of technological expertise and in depth/updated farming principles, climate change, insecurity and funding.
According to her, through the Golden Morn Agripreneurship Webinar Series and being a grant recipients, she has been encouraged and motivated to increase produce, sales and even target being a top supplier of cereal crops within and outside the country.
Commending the brand for the grant for her business, she said, “I was about to stop this business due to some limiting factors but the training and subsequent support from Nestlé’s Golden Morn has encouraged me to continue the business of maize, soyabeans and rice farming.
Sadiq advised youths and women to embrace agriculture, saying it creates employment, self-sufficiency, reduces poverty and hunger.
Another grant recipients, Chukwudi Imhokha, the Chief Executive Officer Azimhoc Ventures, Delta State said, “The journey with Nestlé’s Golden Morn has been a great learning opportunity.
The trainings on adopting business models and circularity for Business Sustainability and Profitability were particularly value adding and very practical for me.
“We are so grateful to Golden Morn and by extension Nestlé, for the huge investment in young people through this laudable initiative,’’ he said.
Food security remains a significant challenge in Nigeria, with millions of people facing hunger and malnutrition.
Addressing this issue requires broad approaches that tackle some of the root causes, such as lack of access to funding, technology know-how-limitations, insecurity and climate change, among others.
However, by investing in farmer’s especially young ones, infrastructure, training, making grants and funds available, promoting innovative solutions and generally prioritising sustainable agriculture, significant and impactful progress can be made toward ensuring food security and improving the well-being of citizens.
As such, concerted efforts and collaboration among government, organisations, corporate bodies, civil societies, and international partners, are needed.
It is in line with this, with the aim of supporting stakeholders’ action to provide support for young entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector and to ensure sustainable food systems, the Golden Morn Agripreneur Webinar Series programme exists, and keeps achieving significant stride in enabling young agripreneurs expand their businesses.
In addition, the project keeps making agriculture more attractive and appealing to youths, thereby increasing their involvement level in the sector.
Since its launch in 2021, the Golden Morn Agripreneurship Programme has provided training, financial assistance, mentorship, and networking opportunities to over 2,000 young people involved in, or aspiring to venture into agriculture.(NAN)
The Federal Government has released two new chicken breeds and 14 new high-yield crop varieties towards increasing agricultural production and improving the nutritional status of Nigerians.
The release of the new chicken breeds and the crop varieties were announced on Thursday during the 34th meeting of National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds/Fisheries.
The Chairman, National Variety Release Committee (NVRC), Prof. Soji Olufajo, presided over the meeting attended by committee members as well as researchers, geneticists, scientists and breeders.
Olufajo said the registration and release of the two new chicken breeds and the varieties of seven crops were based on the recommendation of its two technical sub-committees.
He said the new chicken breeds are Noiler and Cobb 500, while the high-yield crops are wheat, barley, maize, caassava, rice Castor and conchorus.
The technical sub-committee chaired by Prof. S. Ado during its 38th meeting on Tuesday deliberated on the 19 varieties received.
The sub-committee, after deliberation and consideration of the 19 submissions, recommended 14 varieties, which were put before the NVRC for final approval during the Thursday meeting.
In the same vein, the technical sub-committee during its 9th meeting on Wednesday deliberated on the two new chicken breeds received.
The sub-committee, chaired by Prof. Waheed Akin-Hassan, reported that the new chicken breeds – Noiler —- was a locally-developed dual purpose chicken while the Cobb 500 was a meat type chicken breed.
The two technical sub-committees thereafter put their recommendations before the NVRC for final approval.
The NVRC, after exchange of ideas and proper scrutiny of the recommendations put before it, announced the registration and release of the 14 new crop varieties and the two new chicken breeds.
He emphasised that the two breeds were already in the hands of end users, such as poultry farmers, consumers and researchers, saying the release and registration of the breeds are to make it official.
In his remarks, the Director of NACGRAB, Dr Anthony Okere, expressed optimism that the release and registration of the crop varieties would enhance food sufficiency in the country.
Okere urged farmers to embrace the newly released crops to enable them produce quality and quantity with little stress.
He commended the research institutions and other organisations which contributed towards the hosting of the meeting. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Olawale Alabi
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