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FAO boosts agricultural data collection

By Joke Falaju, Abuja
17 October 2021   |   3:48 am
In a bid to boost food security through collection of credible and timely data, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has donated ICT equipment to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In a bid to boost food security through collection of credible and timely data, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has donated ICT equipment to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

During the presentation in Abuja, the FAO Country Representative, Fred Kaffero said the donation was part of its activities to commemorate the World Food Day celebration. 

Kaffero, represented by the Deputy Country Representative, Suleiman Abubakar, emphasised the importance of data and statistics in the planning and execution of agricultural policies, plans and strategies, stating that the donation would enhance data and statistical systems. 

FAO had launched a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) towards Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Improved Data and Information Systems for Policy Planning and Tracking the SDGs in Nigeria, with the objective of enabling inclusive and evidence-based decisions, policies and strategies for agriculture and natural resources at selected federal and state institutions.

The Deputy Country representative pointed out that data and statistics are key factor in monitoring the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with regards to food security and nutrition.

According to Abubakar, the project which supports various interventions such as the sensitisation of stakeholders on the global SDGs and core set of statistical data for monitoring agriculture, food security and nutrition is implemented in four states of Adamawa, Cross River, Kano and Lagos, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja.

The ICT equipment donated include desktop computers, tablets, printers, local area network equipment, memory cards, Internet modems, monitors, projectors, memory cards, and presentation pens, among others

He further revealed that the equipment would be distributed in all the states involved in the project, which includes Adamawa, Cross River, Kano and Lagos as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ernest Umakhihe, while receiving the equipment, said the application of ICT equipment on data generation, analysis and management remains a key instrument for effective policy formulation and tracking the implementation of projects and programs in the development process of any country.

He said: “The gesture of FAO Nigeria for initiating the project and complementing with the job provision of necessary ICT equipment would no doubt help to capacitate the skills of officers and ensure effective data management for sustainable agricultural development in the country.”

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