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By our reporter
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) says it has strengthened the capacity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises particularly small holder farmers in Nasarawa State towards ensuring improved and consumption of safe nutritious foods in the state.
Mercy Olorunfemi, Programme Manager, Business Support, stated this at a one-day programme organised to build the capacity of innovated Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in food value chain in Lafia.
GAIN is implementing the Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples (SNIPS) project in Nigeria particularly Benue, Oyo, Kaduna and Nasarawa States to improve the access and consumption of safe and nutritious foods in Nigeria.
Olorunfemi said the SNIPS project focused particularly on consumption of four major priority staples; Cassava, Maize, Rice and Potato, thereby bringing forward innovations with the potential to contribute to smallholder farmers livelihoods and sustainable rural development.
According to her, the SNIPS Project will achieve success through three key strategies, which are workforce nutrition, bio -fortification and business support.
The Programme Manager explained that the strategies would drive increased consumption of nutritious foods by smallholder farmers, their families, and the wider population; strengthen Vitamin A Cassava, Vitamin A Maize, Rice and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato value chains.
This, she said would improve productivity and efficiency of farmers and other businesses to expand the production of nutritious foods in the priority staples value chains.
“Diets of rural Nigerians are particularly poor, and many Nigerians currently experience vitamin and mineral deficiencies leading to severe health challenges including premature and preventable death especially in under 5-year children.
“Hence, the SNIPS project will build on the key pathways adopted by the country for the post-summit transformation of our food systems including bio – fortification, building the capacity of small and medium sized businesses through the business support component,” she said.
She said that the rice processors in the four local government areas of Nasarawa state; Kokona, Doma, Lafia and Awe were trained on processing adherence safety regulation of Nigeria in ensuring that processed foods were safe for consumption.
“We actually trained rice processors on business sustainability, business operation, so, we are helping rice processors in Nasarawa state to understand the business, how to keep records, package and market.
“We also provide grant this year to ensure that rice processors actually have funds to support their businesses to ensure we eliminate food insecurity and nutrition insecurity in Nigeria,’ she said.
Also speaking, Chinwe Owhorji – Arowolo, National Coordinator, Sun Business Network, said the project revolve around three pillars; creating an enabling environment, increase demand for safe nutritious foods and improving its accessibility, with focus specifically on supply chain.
On his part, Mr Nuhu Oshafu, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Agriculture and Water Resources, represented by the director of Home Economics, Maimuna Mohammed, commended the effort of the organiser for building the capacity of small holder women farmers.
He said that small holder women farmers and youths have always experienced difficulties in securing loan to grow their businesses, noting that government at various times had assisted rice processors in the state particular women and youths.
Omoyeni Babatunji, State Deputy director NAFDAC, said knowing the place of nutrition approach on most farm products, people consumed would go a long way in having a healthy nation and healthy living.
