From Abdullahi Tukur
Federal Government is planning to partner with Master Bakers and other baker associations to engage them on the inclusion of fourty percent Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato puree for bread making in the country.
Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hajiya Karima Babangida, stated this at the North-West Stakeholders Sensitization on the Production and Utilization of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Value Chain organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held in Birnin Kebbi
The Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hajiya Karima Babangida, said the objective of convening the stakeholders meeting was to create a forum for the stakeholders and major actors in potato value chain to chart a way forward for the realization of the fullest potentials locked up in potato production, processing, utilization and maketing.
Represented by the Regional Director, North West, of the Ministry, Engineer Ubandoma Ularamu, Hajiya Babangida, urged various research institutes, agencies and development partners with mandates on the potato value chain to work assidously to create solutions to the numerous challenges be setting the value chain with new technologies and innovations to further improve the production of sweet potato in the country.
According to her, several challenges have been identified in the potato value chain starting from the seed system protocols to the marketing of the products.
The Kebbi State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Maigari Abdullahi, assured the state government commitment to assist in the fight against hunger, address food security and nutrition in the country.
The Commissioner explained that, the state Ministry of Agriculture had been relating with the state branch of the National Potato Association of Nigeria on the variety of the potato hence the need for it’s promotion statewide.
He said, the state government was fully in support of the potato crop where by arrangements are advanced to support about eight hundred farmers during the year 2021wet season.