FOOD SECURITY: OGUN ENGAGES FARMERS ON STEPS TO ENSURE ADEQUATE PRODUCTION

 FOOD SECURITY: OGUN ENGAGES FARMERS ON STEPS TO ENSURE ADEQUATE PRODUCTION

As part of efforts to improve food supply, reduce hunger and prevalence of malnutrition in the country, a rural community stakeholders' food system dialogue has been held in Ogun State to capture the voice of rural dwellers on their plight in food production.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina, while delivering a welcome address at the forum, organised by the Value-chain Development Programme (VCDP), at the Palace ground in Kobape, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, said the dialogue was initiated by United Nations, towards the world summit in New York later in the year.

Dr. Odedina noted that the deliberation would create pathways to a nutritious and healthy food system, to achieve the mandate of the United Nations, Federal and State governments in rural communities, adding that the input of the grassroots farmers would go a long way in shaping national and international policy to drive efficient farming and food system at large.

          ‘’The programme which took place in seven other States in the country was aimed at capturing the voice of rural dwellers on their plight in food production, so as to create pathways to a nutritious and healthy food system in the country, and Ogun was one of the lucky eight States selected to be part of the dialogue, I believe that it will be more useful for the State in formulating policies on agriculture’’, the Commissioner said.

Odedina maintained that the intervention was timely as it would serve as a yardstick to appraise agricultural agenda of the State in job creation, food and nutrition supply, industrialisation and partnership with private investors.

Also speaking, the National Programme Coordinator (VCDP), Mr. Garba Bala, represented by the curator at the event, Mr. Seriki Musa, enjoined the stakeholders to participate actively, as their inputs would form the basis for short and long-term plans for hygienic processing of food.

In his remark, Olu of Kobape, Oba Johnson Alani, stressed that food production could not be over emphasised, encouraging sustenance of such programme, while lauding government for bringing the major stakeholders together in food production and value-chain, to analyze challenges and proffer solutions to food security in the country.

One of the participants, Mr. Johnson Ajibola said the dialogue would expand the scope of strategy to be adopted in the realisation of food abundancy in the State, that would involve youths and women, saying they are crucial in ensuring a modern

  way practice.