By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is partnering with bakers on the inclusion of 40% Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) pure for bread making.
Dr Karima Babangida, the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, said this at a One Day Stakeholders’ Workshop on Adoption of Sweet potato in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.
Babangida said: “The Ministry is planning to partner with master bakers and other bakers’ associations to engage them on how to include 40 per cent OFSP puree for bread making.
“This we hope would increase adoption, utilisation and consumption of OFSP across the country.
“It’s my expectation that at the end of this meeting, solutions to the problems identified would have been found and a road map for the potato value chain.”
The director, who was represented by the Regional Director North-West, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Ubandoma Ularamu, urged Agricultural Development Programmes (AFPs) of different states, various commodity associations and farmers groups to embrace the new innovation.
She explained that the ministry was firmly committed to supporting the agricultural drive of the Federal Government, adding that government was doing everything possible to avert food shortage across the country due to COVID-19 pandemic.
“It has come to the knowledge of the ministry the immense wealth and health benefits in potato production, especially Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) and as such the ministry is willing to explore these opportunities within the Value Chain in furtherance to achieving food security and nutrition for our beloved country.
“The primary objective of convening this stakeholder workshop is to create a forum for the stakeholders/major actors in the Potato Value Chain to chart a way forward for the realisation of the fullest potentials locked up in Potato production, processing/utilisation and marketing.
“Several challenges have been identified in the Potato Value Chain; right from the seed system protocols to the marketing of the produce. The challenges are quite enormous, but however, not one that is unsurmountable.
“Therefore, all hands must be on deck to achieving this feat. There is no formal seed system for Potato, and it’s been a major drawback in the development of the value chain in the country,” Babangida said.
According to her, in achieving the above, the ministry is willing to contribute to the development of the Potato Value Chain through its various agencies and research institutes with mandates in rendering technical services.
The Kebbi State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Maigari Abdullahi-Dakingari, described the adoption of the crop as a welcome development and assured that the state government had already mobilised its farmers towards achieving the set goals and objectives of the programme.
He noted that over 8,000 farmers had been mobilised across the state, adding that the state is abundantly endowed with mineral resources and food of different varieties.
Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu, the State Director, FMARD, said the meeting centred on addressing the problems and challenges on production, processing, adoption and utilisation of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato in Nigeria.
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