Japanese Embassy, SAA Reiterates Support for Agriculture in Nigeria
To improve farming systems in Nigeria, the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria and Sasakawa Africa Association, SAA (formerly SG2000) have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the agricultural sector.
The two institutions gave the assurance in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Country Director of SAA, Dr Godwin Atser, to the Embassy.
It was gathered that the renewed commitment is purposely aimed at tapping Japanese technologies including information and communication technologies for the improvement of farming systems in Nigeria.
While receiving the SAA country director at the Embassy in Abuja, Ambassador Kazuyoshi Matsunaga appreciated the significant role played by the body in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular.
Atser said agriculture holds a lot of potential, but that they are yet to be fully harnessed, as improved technologies are yet to get to farmers because of a weak public extension architecture.
He noted that while SAA had done a lot in improving the public extension system, more needs to be done, which underscored the need for more partnerships.
He explained that to tackle the various problems confronting agriculture, SAA under the leadership of President Makoto Kitanaka has rejigged the strategy of the organization with a focus on regenerative agriculture, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, market-oriented agriculture, and other crosscutting pillars including capacity building, e-extension and inclusion (youth, women and people living with disabilities).
His words: “Through this strategy, the SAA approach has become holistic and is responding to the new and emerging challenges, including climate change and pests and diseases facing farmers in Africa.”
The ambassador then vowed to support SAA activities in Nigeria, adding that the internet’s intervention in Nigeria was an asset to be harnessed for agricultural development.
The ambassador noted that technologies in terms of agriculture mechanization could reduce drudgery, boost productivity, and improve the efficiency of farmers in Nigeria.
Agro Nigeria / Foluke Ibitomi
