IFAD expresses commitment to its partnership with the international community for Nigeria's food security and nutrition. Image credit: NAN
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has expressed its commitment to collaborating with the international community in dealing with the common challenges facing the achievement of Nigeria’s food security.
This was revealed in a statement by the IFAD Vice President Dr. Donal Brown at a news conference in Abuja, which was titled Dr. “Brown High-level mission to Nigeria” a testament to its purpose to achieve Nigeria’s food security.
The IFAD associate vice president, Dr. Donal Brown said, during the meeting at the international news conference held on Saturday, that the sole objective of the visit was to “review the IFAD partnership with the federal government of Nigeria on food security”.
According to Mr Donal, this is a conscious move by the IFAD towards improving Nigeria’s food security and nutrition, including empowering agro-based industries and medium scale farmers.
“My mission is not only to strengthen our partnership, but secondly, is to look at the future direction of supports that I have IFAD can provide the government.
“My visit is also to review the IFAD partnership with Nigeria on food security and agriculture. And to think about the future directions of support we can give.”
He also said the IFAD’s project in Niger Delta” is “focussing on youths entrepreneurship and value chain projects” which also includes a designated program targated at improving livelihood of Niger Delta households.
Meanwhile, several other programs by the same organization exist for the sustainability of Nigeria’s food security through funding for agricultural production.
But there has always appeared to be something close to lack of “proper inclusion of those the projects are really meant for” and on the other hand where the problem lies somewhere on the part of government’s inability to assess performance of its agencies.
“Most of our programs, like the value chain development program(VCDP), livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in Niger Delta (Life-ND) are really performing very well.
“We have a very good project in Niger Delta focussing on youths entrepreneurship and value chain projects and also supporting the African development bank on special Agro Processing Zone (SAPZ) project.”
“Life-ND is extremely successful and I’m looking at standing the project for two years; VCDP which has been in the country for 10 years also has very good result,” he added.
One of the IFAD’S members also speaking at the conference was the IFAD Executive Board Member Nigeria and Permanent Representative, Dr Yaya Olaniran who said Nigeria government must show preparedness and willingness if other countries will come in and assist.
Dr Yaya Olaniran, who is also Board Member of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Program (WFP) said everyone is involved in this determination to solve good security, especially those living in the rural areas of the country.
“This situations will not go away until some of the necessary palliative measures are put in place and the two projects Life-ND and the VCDP are talking about addressing right, front and back.”
“So whatever we want to do if the government is prepared, ready to play her part and the needful are done it will be easier for other countries to come in and assist.
“For the president to declare a state of emergency of food means all hands must be on desk, take care of what you can take here of, particularly in the rural,” he stated.
