Biodun Esan, Ilorin
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State on Monday inaugurated a multi-sectoral committee on food security, charging them to work with all stakeholders to ensure that people have access to affordable food.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye said the committee would be headed by the Governor and the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Oluwatoyosi Adebayo Thomas as member.
Other members include the Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs; the state Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture; NAGS-AP State Focal Person; the representative of the River Basin Development Authority (RBDA); the representative of the State ADPs, and representative of ICT Providers servicing the state.
The rest are representatives of relevant commodity associations such as AFAN, Maize Cassava, Soybean, Rice; Bank of Agriculture; Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc); and representatives of the state traditional council and Etsu Tsaragi Alhaji Aliyu Kpotwa Abdullahi.
The committee is to develop strategies, policies, and initiatives to address food security challenges and promote sustainable agricultural practices, among other things.
Inaugurating the committee on Monday morning, the Governor said its members are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that every citizen in the state has access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food.
“As we embark on this journey, we must acknowledge the challenges ahead. Climate change, population growth, and economic instability threaten to disrupt food production and access. Yet we must remain steadfast in our commitment to overcoming these obstacles.
“We’ll focus on supporting smallholder farmers, empowering rural communities, and leveraging innovation and technology.
“I urge each committee member to approach their role with dedication and compassion. Our success will be measured not so much by the policies we formulate but by the tangible impact we have on the lives of our fellow citizens.
“Let us work together, drawing upon our collective expertise, network, and experience to develop solutions that address the root causes of food insecurity in our state,” he said.
Adebayo-Thomas in her remarks said the committee has its work cut out for it and would work round the clock to achieve the objective of making Kwara self-sufficient in food.
Managing Director of Lower Niger RBDA Dr. Adeniyi Saheed Aremu said it is important for Nigeria to feed itself, asking the committee to remain committed to its terms of reference.
The Etsu Tsaragi also commended the Governor for setting up the committee, calling for effective collaboration with all the commodities’ associations in the important task.
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