Several northern states have welcomed the European Union and Germany’s new €18.3 million agriculture project aimed at boosting Nigeria’s food production.
The project, which targets over 25,000 farmers in four critical agricultural value chains: cocoa, dairy, tomatoes, and ginger, will run from October 2024 to September 2028 and will be implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, in partnership with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning as well as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The regional launch, held in Jos, Plateau State, on Tuesday, was attended by various dignitaries and representatives from the various northern states that including Kano, Plateau, Kebbi, as well as officials from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
Speaking at the event, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State commended the European Union and the German government for the initiative, describing it as laudable.
Mutfwang, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Livestock, Sunday Akpa
expressed optimism that the project would transform the state’s agricultural landscape, stressing, “As a government, we are happy because the project will revive the dairy sector in Plateau State, contributing to Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in dairy production.
The Kebbi State government, represented by a director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Farouk Illo, also commended the EU and the German counterpart for the project, pointing out that the initiative aligns with their efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and improve livelihoods in Kebbi State.
“We expect the project to boost our agricultural output, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth,” Illo said.
Similarly, the Kano State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr Aliyu Isa, disclosed that the state government was committed to leveraging the project to boost agricultural development and food security in Kano State.
“This is not the first time the EU and Germany have been doing something remarkable in Kano State
“We believe the EU-VACE TARED project will support our efforts to modernise agriculture, improve value chains, and increase farmers’ incomes,” the Commissioner stated
The Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca and the Head of Cooperation, German Embassy, Dr Karin Jansen, as well as the Head of Programme, EU-VACE TARRED, Dr Andrea Reudiger, in their separate remarks assured the people that they were committed to supporting the northern states and more importantly, Nigeria’s agricultural development.
0 Comments