From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) have commissioned a committee to fast-track the adoption of new technologies to boost food production.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Temitope Peter Fashedemi at the commissioning of the committee, yesterday in Abuja, explained that collaboration was timely bearing in mind that the world is being driven by the application of innovation and technology.
Fashedemi explained that the technology in the agricultural sector practices would guarantee the desire of the present administration of achieving food security, job creation, and industrialization across the country.
He pointed out that the National Agriculture Technology and Innovation (2022-2027) was premised on 10 thematic areas including stakeholders’ synergy and alignment, knowledge creation and transfer, rapid mechanization, agricultural development fund establishment, extension service delivery revitalization and livestock development.
According to him, the membership of the technical committee from the Ministry comprised of Directors from the Federal Department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry Services, Rural Development, Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services, Federal Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Planning and Policy Coordination and Executive Secretary Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria as well as the representatives of NASENI.
In addition, he tasked members to work towards redefining and positioning the agricultural sector through the use of innovation in line with 8 point agenda of Mr. President.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Director of Federal Department of Agriculture in the Ministry, Garba Abdullahi pledged that the committee would work assiduously to achieve its mandate geared towards achieving food and nutrition security.