” As Gov Abdulrazaq restates commitment to food security

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the implementation of a Food System Transformation Pathways (FSTP), which promotes access to safe and nutritious food for all Nigerian citizens.

The Governor spoke in Ilorin during a two-day bi-annual zonal review meeting on implementation of FSTP, organised by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

Food System Transformation Pathways was introduced by the United Nations following the outbreak of COVID 19 pandemic and the attendant food crisis. It is to address food security issues in countries all over the world. It is anchored on three core pillars: home garden, school garden, and farm estate practices.

The zonal meeting, which took place between Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd November, drew participants from Northern and Southern states: Ogun, Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo, Nassarawa, Plateau, Niger, Kogi, Oyo, Osun, FCT and Kwara which is the host. Benue state was not represented.

AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, said Kwara is leaving no stone unturned to achieve the objectives of the programme.

“Over three hundred public Primary, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools have school farms which also include Animal husbandry like Poultry, Fishery and Goat and Sheep rearing,” he said.

He said there is a synergy between the State Committee for Food and Nutrition (SCFN) and the Committee for the Food Systems Transformation Pathways (FSTP) to strengthen nutrition activities and ensure that nutritious food is available to eradicate malnutrition in the state.

He commended the federal government for the choice of Kwara State as the host, calling the convention a significant milestone in the journey to transform Nigeria.

Commissioners for Finance Dr Hauwa Nuru, for her part, said Kwara state under Governor AbdulRazaq is already championing the food security programme through numerous support for crop farmers in the state.

“The meeting is about food security. Our state is already doing a lot with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq championing this. Our cluster farmers are regularly supported with land allocation and farm inputs, the same way the government is encouraging backyard farming. So a lot will be achieved in terms of increasing our food production,” Dr Nuru said.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Olohuntoyosi Thomas said Kwara is doing greatly in term of farm estate, home garden and school farming, adding that over three hundred schools are already being supported by state government on crop production and animal husbandry.

“So far in Kwara State, we have over one hundred clusters which are the same as farm estates. That ranges between 20 to 5 hectares. As a result of that we have been able to improve our productivity. We have done four interventions out of which 70 percent went to clusters,” she said.

National Convener for FSTP and Director of Social Development, Federal Military of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Sanjo Faniran, said climate change, erosion, unwillingness of youth to farm, and drought are some of the challenges facing the agriculture sector in the country that can be addressed through FSTP.

“All the states of federation are included and brought together. Each state is expected to implement those tractions and value chains that will change the narrative in the food system so that the food security can be guaranteed”, he said.

“Nigerians should be involved in planting instead of crying that there is no food. When you are involved in planting at the back of your house, if you don’t have land, you can use plastic to plant vegetables. You can use a sack to plant yam.”