It also signed an agreement on the declaration of partnership with the Federal Government to begin a five-year agriculture programme known as Feed the Future Nigeria Country Plan. FitzGibbon stated that the newly inaugurated country plan would build on the successes of Feed the Future’s $165m investment in Nigeria since 2015, as well as ensure that farmers were connected with suppliers, improve agricultural extension services and stimulate market growth. According to FitzGibbon, the five-year country plan will focus on Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Adamawa, Borno, Gombe and Yobe states, adding that they would help develop five of the government’s prioritised agricultural value chains including aquaculture, cowpea, maize, rice and soybeans. In his remarks, the Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, blamed poor food production in Nigeria on the level of insecurity across the country. Many commentators will argue that but it is the lack of production and climate change that feeds insecurity.

Source: Punch July 19, 2019 03:08 UTC