The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, has disclosed the Federal Government commenced some priority actions in 2022 in order to make food systems more sustainable.
He disclosed this in Abuja during the inauguration of a 20-man steering committee on state implementation of the food systems transformation pathway in Nigeria.
According to the minister, the priority actions include disseminating information about weather patterns and soil properties, and best practices for crops, livestock, aquaculture, and poultry production.
It also includes states establishing farm settlements/estates with all basic amenities (including Internet) to discourage rural-to-urban migration and the promotion of Operation Feed Yourself.
In his words, he said that these actions include, “The Federal Government through NiMet and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regularly collect and disseminate (through radio and other platforms) information about weather patterns and soil properties and best practices for crops, livestock, aquaculture, and poultry production. Information is disseminated in time to inform food production decisions for each rainy and dry season.
“States establish farm settlements/estates made up of groups of smallholder producers, including women and youths, and use estates to increase input supply, machinery hiring, extension and other services, and market access. Farm settlement estates include all basic amenities (including internet) to discourage rural to urban migration.
“The Federal Government through LGAs promotes Operation Feed Yourself by helping households to access information and inputs that will encourage them to produce food around their houses to feed their families.”