The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), has launched a five-year potato strategic plan to ensure massive production, value addition, processing, and product development in the potato value chain in the country.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, who disclosed this in Jos, Plateau State, noted that the essence of this strategy is to ensure sustainable food security with a view to catalyzing the rapid transformation of the Nigerian potato sector into a commercially viable sector.
The ministry pointed out that it is confident that the national potato strategy will follow in the footsteps of the rice policy and usher in an era of productive competitiveness in the potato industry.
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The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Abduallahi Abubakar, reiterated the ministry’s commitment towards the development of the sector, adding that the goal is to stimulate economic growth through various agricultural value chain activities to create employment opportunities and improved livelihoods for the teeming youths and women.
Umakhihe noted the ministry’s commitment to the development of the sector with a goal to stimulate economic growth through various agricultural value chain activities, thereby creating employment opportunities for teeming youths and women in the country.
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In his comments, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang said his administration would continue to seek collaboration with critical stakeholders on how to boost potato farming and production in the state.
The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bugama Samson Ishaku, said the state is the home of potatoes, adding that all hands must be on deck to ensure the implementation of the National Potato Strategy for sustainable food and nutrition security.
