A new National Policy document on Potato to boost production in the country and increase farmers earnings has been launched in Nigeria.
The 5 years policy document known as “The National Potato Strategy 2023-2028” was officially launched in Jos the Plateau state capital in North Central Nigeria.
The National Potato Strategy 2023-2028 outlines a strategic roadmap that sets forth key objectives, targets and action plans to drive development in the Potato value chain in Nigeria.
It was put together by the Green Innovation Centre for the Agriculture and Food Sector and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and other stakeholders.
The policy document seeks to create Surplus for trade and Export, equip farmers with necessary skills for best agronomic practices for better yield, provide high yielding variety seed Potato and to generally expand the Potato industry in Nigeria.
The Country Director GIZ Dr. Marcus Wagner in his remark said Germany has encouraged the Nigerian Government to develop sector specific strategies such as the National Potato Strategy to foster a sound framework for all stakeholders within the sector.
He said in the coming years, Germany will continue to support Nigeria in achieving a series of national development plans.
“We at GIZ also want to underline the relevance of this strategy. It embodies the commitment to addressing critical challenges, from food security to the economic growth of the sector” He noted.
Wagner called on stakeholders involved to commit to the implementation, ensuring that the National Potato Strategy does not only remains a document but transforms into a catalyst for positive change.
“I therefore appeal to each one of you to embrace this strategy as a blueprint for action which outlines our path to strengthening the regulatory framework, improving the access to high-quality potato seed, equipping farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to increase production and finally to establishing a well-coordinated and sustainable potato sector through partnerships”.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security who was represented by the Director Federal Department of Agriculture Engr. Abdullahi Garba Abubakar in his keynote address said the launch of the National Potato Strategy couldn’t have come at a better time than when the Nigerian government declared emergency on food security.
He noted that like other policies, the Ministry is confident that the implementation of the National Potato Strategy would boost Nigeria’s competitiveness in Potato production.
“I have no doubt that the Nigerian Potato industry has the potential to become globally competitive given the country’s strong comparative advantage in production. Potatoes can be commercially grown in 12 States which holds well for the activities of many stakeholders” .
He added that the essence of this strategy is to ensure sustainable food and nutrition security with a view to catalysing the rapid transformation of the Nigerian potato sector into a commercially viable sub-sector of the Agricultural Value Chains as a major export product.
For the Plateau state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Mr. Bugama Ishaku, the state government would be at the front line of the implementation of the National Potato Strategy 2023-2028 being the major producer of Potato in Nigeria.
He said the state government would pay close attention to the implementation and provide the necessary support.
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