The Nigerian government has entered into a partnership with the United States to boost investment and growth in Nigeria’s agriculture sector. The signing of the partnership deal was concluded on Thursday and twelve States across the country will benefit from it.
Specifically, the event held in the Federal Capital, Abuja characterised the launch of a five-year plan to improve food security, build greater resilience and improve household nutrition in the country.
Today, the governments of the United States & Nigeria jointly signed a declaration of partnership to launch a five-year Global #Food Strategy Support Program Plan for #Nigeria (#GFSSNigeria) to increase investments in food security, build greater resilience, and improve nutrition pic.twitter.com/tuRUK9I4hN
— USAID/Nigeria (@USAIDNigeria) July 18, 2019
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The Partnership Deal: Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, the Chargé D’affaires, US Embassy, Kathleen FitzGibbon, revealed that the newly inaugurated plan would consolidate on the investment the U.S had made in Nigeria’s agriculture sector in the last 5 years.
Explaining further, FitzGibbon disclosed that the U.S has invested about $165 million investment in Nigeria’s agriculture sector since 2015. This also included ensuring that farmers were connected with suppliers, improve agricultural extension services and stimulate market growth.
“The US government has invested $165 million toward agriculture and economic development in Nigeria over the last four years. This new county’s plan anticipates continuing our investments in Nigeria’s agriculture over the next five years.”
According to FitzGibbon, the five-year country plan would focus on 11 States in Nigeria. The States include Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Adamawa, Borno, Gombe and Yobe. He added that the U.S government would help develop five of the government’s prioritised agricultural value chains, including aquaculture, cowpea, maize, rice and soybeans.
Boost for Agriculture Sector: The U.S official stressed that the Feed Nigeria country plan is aimed at boosting Agric business, and assist communities to withstand unanticipated shocks, such as the drought that affects food production and also improves the health of some of the country’s most vulnerable communities.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammed Bello Umar, stressed that the partnership would strengthen the nation’s economic recovery plan.
Also at the launch were over 20 private sector vendors in agro-processing, agro technology, nutrition services and agricultural consulting services.
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