Vice President Kashim Shettima has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s avowed commitment to agricultural revolution and food production can be facilitated by partner research and production institutions like the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) as well as volunteer partners.
According to him, the Tinubu administration has taken the bull by the horns and is walking the talk by fixing Nigeria’s food security challenges.
Speaking on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, when he embarked on an assessment tour of the IITA, VP Shetttima expressed total confidence in the capacity, expertise and ability of the institution to harness the nation’s agriculture potential.
He said looking inwards has become mandatory, especially with withdrawals of some specialised grants meant for alleviating the plight of Nigerians through the health and agricultural sectors.
“The IITA is an institution that has been at the forefront of agricultural research, food security and economic development across Africa for the past five decades.
“We have some of the best crop scientists working here. The institution has been in existence for over 57 years but the Nigerian government has not fully utilised its potential. But it’s better late than never.
“That is why the President insisted that my humble self, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusinesses and Productivity Enhancement (Office of the Vice President), Dr Kingsley Uzoma, should come here and give him a live account of what we saw,” the VP said.
The Vice President explained why the government is poised to partner with IITA, noting that the institution’s commitment to practical research, impact, local yearnings and robust technological innovations makes it an indispensable ally in Nigeria’s agro-food sustenance policies.
Earlier, the Director-General of IITA, Dr Simeon Ehui, said the institute is spearheading multiple initiatives that have improved access to climate-resilient seeds and agricultural technologies.
“Our innovative systems between IITA-CGIAR and partners, particularly in improving cassava, maize and cowpea varieties have increased farmers’ access to high-yield climate-resilient seeds. The same applies to rice,” he said.
Dr. Ehui explained that IITA’s efforts are creating measurable impacts on both small-scale and commercial farming operations nationwide, noting that in the Northeast, the USAID-funded Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity (NIAA) has established community-based enterprises that focus on youth and women’s participation in agriculture.
“Our project in the North East is developing community-based enterprises, creating jobs and increasing yields of staple crops and ensuring nutritionally dense staple food for Nigerians,” Dr. Ehui stated.
He pointed out that a major advancement in the institute’s work is the newly established Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health at IITA headquarters.
“This initiative will serve as a regular catalyst for promoting sustainable fertilizer use, improving soil health and directly supporting Nigeria’s efforts to increase agricultural productivity,” Dr. Ehui said.
He added that the institute has also played a crucial role in crisis response, partnering with the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) to address the recent ginger blight epidemic.
The Vice President, accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari; the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusinesses and Productivity Enhancement (Office of the Vice President), Dr Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (Southwest), Moremi Ojudu, and other senior government officials were taken round the facilities at the institution, including the Seed Multiplication Centre for yam/cassava and the institution’s Business Incubation Platform (BIP).
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