8,000 farmers to benefit from Kebbi Govt intervention

The Kebbi State Government is to support about 8,000 orange-fleshed sweet potato farmers during the 2021 wet season, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Maigari Abdullahi, has disclosed. 

He stated this at the North-West Stakeholders Sensitization on the Production and Utilization of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Value Chain organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held in Birnin Kebbi.

The Commissioner said the production of sweet potatoes would assist in the fight against hunger, address food security and nutrition as it contains vitamin A.

The Commissioner explains that the state ministry has been relating with the state branch of the National Potato Association of Nigeria and the ministry has educated on the variety of the potato hence the need for its promotion statewide.

Earlier, 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 the potato value chain to chart a way forward for the realization of the fullest potentials locked up in potato production, processing, utilization, and marketing.

The Director pointed out that, it has come to the knowledge of the ministry, the immense wealth and health benefits in potato production, especially Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato, and as such the ministry is willing to explore these opportunities within the value chain in furtherance to achieving food security and nutrition for the country.

Represented by Engineer Ubandoma Ularamu, used the medium to urged various research institutes, agencies and development partners with mandates on the potato value chain to work assiduously to create solutions to the numerous challenges besetting 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.

She revealed that the ministry is planning to partner with Master Bakers and other baker associations to engage them on the inclusion of 40 per cent Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato puree for bread making.