U.S. to support Nigeria to boost food security, reduce post-harvest losses, says envoy

Urges govt to invest in nation’s agric potentials

The United States (U.S.) Government has said it would do a lot in the agric sector to support Nigeria to overcome food security challenges and post-harvest losses suffered by the country that lead to hunger and hardship.

The Charge d’Affaires in Nigeria, David Greene, who stated this when he led a team from American Embassy to 15,000 hectares Agbeyewa Farms, a private initiative of Cavista Holdings in Ipao-Ekiti, in Ikole Local Council of Ekiti State, said that if truly Nigeria wants to achieve food security, government must tap into the agricultural potential of the country.

The U.S. Diplomat, who did not specify where precisely the American government would assist, however, urged the Nigerian government to prioritise investment in agriculture to tackle the prevailing food crisis and resultant hunger ravaging the country.

He said that his country had already invested in dairy farms, cocoa production, adding that the U.S. was also collaborating with donor-organisations to support Nigerian producers.

He added that Nigeria, with abundance of arable lands, fertile soil and favourable weather, had all it takes to maximise the potentials in agriculture not only to feed her citizens but also export for income generation.

Green, therefore, urged the Federal Government to tap into economic potentials of large-scale agricultural initiatives to boost food security, create jobs, as well as drive economic growth.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Cavista Holdings, John Olajide, said that the vision behind the multi-million-naira investment in agribusiness was to ensure adequate supply of foods, improve nutrition, create jobs and foster community development.

Olajide said that the agro-allied firm was also committed to empowering farmers to realise higher yields through various strategic interventions towards boosting their production capacity.

He added that the crops of interest for cultivation were cassava, maize, yam, among others, saying that plans are afoot to commence cassava revolution project in partnership with Ekiti State government to meet the rising demand for cassava chips in the export market.

Olajide stated that the Agbeyewa farms under the cassava revolution initiatives would offer comprehensive support to local farmers with improved seedlings and streamline supply chain by picking up their farm produce directly from their farms at optimal prices.