|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
A group under the auspices of Activista has sought a robust collaboration with the Nasarawa State Ministry of Agriculture in the area of agricultural support services to end hunger and poverty among youths.
Anna-Envoh Emmanuel, Nasarawa State Coordinator, Activista, disclosed this in a briefing on Friday in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital as part of the hunger-free Nigeria campaign.
According to her, the hunger hunger-free Nigeria campaign is a youth-led initiative being championed by Activista and Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) with support from ActionAid toward ending hunger and poverty in Nasarawa state.
Activista serves as the youth platform of ActionAid, an international organization dedicated to fostering positive change and empowering communities worldwide.
The Activista state Coordinator listed possible areas of collaboration with the Nasarawa Ministry of Agriculture to include: agriculture support services to small-scale farmers, youth youth-friendly agricultural policies.
Other examples are increased investment in agriculture, improved food security, and strengthened relationships with civil society organizations, and youth movements like Activista, to ensure that their voices are heard.
“We commend the efforts of the Nasarawa Government particularly the Ministry of Agriculture toward food security, however, we are seeking more collaboration in the following area to benefit youths and achieve their goals.
“We demand that the ministry provides affordable fertilizer and support small-scale farmers, who are the backbone of our system to increase productivity and income.
“We demand increased investment in agriculture, in the areas of irrigation, mechanization, and extension services, to increase productivity and efficiency of our farmers,” she urged.
Envoh-Emmanuel urged the government to make policies that would support youth participation in agriculture, including access to land, credit, and markets to encourage young people to see farming as a viable career option.
“We demand that the ministry prioritizes initiatives that would improve food security and nutrition, particularly for groups such as women, children, and the elderly to ensure that everyone has access to safe and nutritious food.
Responding, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Umaru Abdullahi, represented by Deputy Director, Extension Lydia Kyari, said the ministry was ready to support young people who would want to venture into farming.
He noted the state government under the leadership of Gov Abdullahi Sule had placed a premium on agriculture and food security, noting that the government had been supporting farmers with farm inputs.
“What I want to tell you is that you have come to the right place we can assist you in so many ways, as far as you are ready for farming through supplying of farm inputs like fertilizers and seedlings,” he said.
The hunger free Nigeria campaign featured road walk from Lafia City Stadium to the state ministry of agriculture by youths with placards in various inscriptions such as increase funding for agriculture, everyone should have access to healthy food among others.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.