USAID

The United States Agency for International Development, USAID in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FMARD including other development partners have joined forces together toward boosting nutritious food and ensure food security in a view to reducing malnutrition in Nigeria.

USAID Technical Advisor, Advancing Nutrition Project, Mr. Michael Daniel Evashoyan, made this assertion on Thursday in Abuja at a training workshop organised by the FMARD, USAID and other donors to mark the 2022 World Food Day.

Daniel, who said the door is widely opened for other donors to support the advancement of food system for the purpose of enhancing food security and nutritious food in Nigeria, revealed that USAID Advancing Project has trained over 10,000 farmers in Bauchi, Kebbi and Sokoto states.

He also stated that they are currently generating data to support programming and intervention, adding that effort by some federal ministries, USAID Advancing Nutrition project and others are on the high gear to ensure that there is food security and nutrition foods for average Nigerians.

“USAID Advancing Nutrition project, is currently working in Kebbi, Sokoto and Bauchi states, we are trying to incorporate the Federal Capital Territory, FCT as well as Ebonyi state. The choice of these states is the function of nutrition data that is publicly being published by NDHS.

In his remark at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FMARD, Dr. Ernest Umakhihi, thanked the donor partners, especially USAID Advancing Nutrition, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Harvest Fields, HarvestPlus and Eat Safe Project of USAID, for their relentless efforts and support to Nigeria with a view to making sure that Nigerians consume wholesome and nutritious meals for healthy living and increase productivity.

He said that the health and economic crises imposed by Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the tendencies for the vulnerable household to consume less nutritious foods leading to increased health burden of millions of vulnerable households during and after the pandemic.

The Permanent Secretary stated that in response to the United Nations Assembly calls on ensuring access to safe and nutritious food for all, the FMARD in collaboration with other key partners in the food system will continue to promote nutrition sensitive agriculture in order to address malnutrition in all ramifications.

He said, “To this effect, we are committed to taking necessary steps and actions to ensuring access to safe and nutricious food, boost nature-positive production and building resilience to vulnerabilities.”

Umakhihi asserted that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rurul Development is also giving support to the vulnerable households to produce nutricious food at the household level.

He said this arrangment is aligns closely with the “Operation Feed Yourself Summit” adopted in the last UN Food System as a veritable tool and food safety tool, ensuring unfettered access to nutritious and safe food at both household and community levels.

“The World Food Day celebration provides another opportunity for participants to brainstorm and share their experiences on how best farmers can improve on their livelihoods and nutritional status as they produce and consume safe and nutritious meals.” he said.