Read in
Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have called on the need to explore the untapped opportunities within Nigeria’s agricultural sector and reinvigorate the role of millets as a key driver of economic growth, social development, and environmental sustainability.
The call was made on Tuesday at the commemoration of the 2023 International Year of Millets, organised by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The FAO Representative in Nigeria and to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mr Fred Kafeero, while delivering his address, stated that Nigeria can transform millets value chain, elevating them from being a mere staple to a strategic crop that contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“They are resilient crops that have withstood the test of time, adapting to various agroecological conditions and feeding generations. We recognise their immense nutritional value, and their contribution to food security, poverty alleviation, and sustainable agriculture.
“As FAO we want to reaffirm our commitment to offering technical assistance to the government of Nigeria in its efforts to promote the cultivation, consumption, and commercialisation of millets.
“Together with all of you, and with renewed enthusiasm and determination, there is no doubt we will harness the potential of millets to combat hunger, malnutrition, and the challenges posed by climate change.”
Furthermore, Mrs Sugra Mahmood, the Director, Food Safety at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, noted Nigeria has a long-standing history of cultivating and consuming millet.
Mahmood noted that the country can enhance agricultural sustainability, reduce vulnerability to climate change, and improve livelihoods for farmers through promotion of the crop.
“Millet is not only a nutrient-rich crop, packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, but it is also resilient to harsh climatic conditions and requires less water compared to other staple crops.