15 million Nigerians to benefit from biofortified crops commercialisation

About 15 million Nigerians would be benefitting from the Commercialisation of Biofortified Crops (CBC) project launched to improve diet quality and tackle hunger.

Also, it is expected that over 500 new micro and small-scale investors would either be producing or processing cassava, while over 1000 new micro and small-scale investors would either be producing grains or processing Provitamin A (PVA) maize.

Speaking at the launch of the project in Abuja, The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono,  while speaking at the launch of the project in Abuja, said there must be proper linkages among stakeholders for effective commercialisation.

The Minister was represented by the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Hajiya Karima Babangida.

Babangida who was also represented by a Director in the Ministry, Dr Oyeleke Razaq, harped on the need for adequate funding, adding that the Federal Government in collaboration with GAIN and Harvest Plus would team up to make it get the best level.

“There are a lot of business opportunities in this and this will go along way in generating revenue,” he said.

The Country Director, Global Alliance for Alliance Nutrition (GAIN), Michael Ojo, said the programme was launched in 2019 to address widespread hidden hunger in Africa and Asia through expanding the reach of foods and food products made with biofortified staple crops.

Ojo explained that the program which has a three-year life span works with commercial value chain actors including seed producers, farmers, aggregators and processors to catalyse commercial markets for biofortified seeds, grains and food products in six countries with pervasive levels of malnutrition.

He said they are working in eight states to include: Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Cross River, Anambra, Osun and Oyo States.

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“We have the commitment of states we are working with and we are looking forward to working with national assembly to put the right legislation in place for us, so as to reach the poorest of the poor in our society,” he noted.

The Country Director, Harvest Plus Nigeria Paul Ilona, said biofortified crops are not genetically modified, but to increase their density of iron, zinc, or vitamin A. He said they are varieties developed by conventional means.

He said the programme is not only aimed at focusing on food security and good nutrients but for farmers to make more money from their business.

He, however, said the goal is to strengthen demand for nutrient-rich staple foods and to improve the enabling environment for biofortified foods and food products.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

15 million Nigerians to benefit from biofortified crops commercialisation