Small scale farmers in Nasarawa State have called on government at all levels to pay maximum attention to provision of agro-inputs and mechanisation to enhance crop production.
General secretary of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria Nasarawa State Chapter, Mr. Jonathan Joshua made the call during a one-day agri-business clinic for small scale farmers in Lafia the state capital
The agribusiness clinic is a forum organized by Nongovernmental organization, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition GAIN to train farmers on ways of growing crops especially rice and cassava with rich nutritive value.
One of the participants, Mr Jonathan Joshua who is the Nasarawa State secretary general, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, said one of the major ways to achieve quality nutrition in the country,is for government at all levels to set aside substantial funds for crop production.
Senior project manager, supply chain for commercialization, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Mr Godwin Ehiabhi noted that in the last two years farmers especially in rural communities of Nasarawa State had been engaged in series of trainings on how to acquire skills in harnessing healthy food production, processing and sales.
” Since the commencement of this project the benefitting farmers under the programme have been able to learn how to make different recipes from the various raw produce that they have on their tables. So this has been very interesting because most of these farmers have gone to produce different products and package them and we can now see some of them in the store today and some are being sold in the community, ” he said.
Commissioner for commerce, industries and investment Mr. Muhammed Iyimoga represented by the director of industry and investment Mr Abubakar Muhammed stated that the state government had developed a strong template to promote investment in agriculture and production of healthy food.
The commissioner stressed the need for increased sensitization on production and consumption of healthy foods to check malnutrition.