Fed Govt Restates Commitment To Food Security
The Director, Department of Agriculture and Extension Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Alphonsus Onwuemeka, spoke during a training organised for Agricultural Extension Officers at the head office of Ekiti State Agricultural Development Programme in Ikole-Ekiti.
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to use agriculture to ensure food security and provide more employment for Nigerians.
Onwuemeka said out that the Federal Government was working towards using agriculture to generate export and support sustainable income and jobgrowth.
According to him, Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cassava which is handled only by small farmers in southern, central and lately northern Nigeria. He regretted that the country still imports starch, flour and sweeteners that can be made from cassava.
In his remarks, the Acting Programme Manager of Ekiti State Agricultural Development Programme, Mr. Oladele Yakubu, said Nigeria is presently facing shortages in staple crops because of dependence on imported food.
