AFRICAN Union Development Agency-New Partnership for African Development (AUDA-NEPAD) yesterday said it would ensure food security towards building resilience for sustainable economic growth and development.
It noted that the agency would facilitate capacity building to enhance productive capacities of rural farmers.
National Coordinator/CEO of AUDA-NEPAD/African Peer Review Mechanism Princess Gloria Akobundu spoke in Abuja at the closing of the National Workshop on “Applications of Juncao Technology and its contributions to achievement of sustainable agriculture and sustainable development goals in Nigeria.’’
Akobundu noted that the agency would work with partners to support smallholder farmers to reap the benefits of the technology in growing mushrooms.
She said the Chinese technology would create direct and indirect jobs, tackle and boost food production.
‘’This is the beginning of our efforts to work with our partners to support smallholder farmers to reap the benefits of this technology of growing mushrooms.
“Let me assure you that my office will continue to facilitate capacity building to enhance capacities of rural farmers.
The Chief of National Strategies and Capacity Building Branch Division for Sustainable Development Goals at the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Amson Sibanda, noted that Juncao would support the country’s plans in agriculture, value addition, beneficiation of key-value chains and linkages, among others.
He said Juncao was among cutting-edge applications contributing to improving food systems and achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
“Agriculture represents nearly US$8 trillion industry globally, according to World Bank, so how can Nigeria harness and leverage the application of advanced technology, such as Juncao, to benefit from this US$8t industry in addition to contributing to protecting the planet, enhancing food and nutrition security.
“The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for transformative initiatives under the means of implementation targets under Goal 17: “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
“Juncao technology showcases a pathway whereby such initiatives can catalyse change, transform lives and livelihoods, and create opportunities for a better future, leaving no one behind, especially when they are combined with continental initiatives such as the one on “Strengthening of smallholder farmers capabilities towards productive restoration amid COVID-19 in Nigeria.
“To build the capacities of local researchers, we will be offering small competitive research grants to one or two agricultural universities interested in undertaking research on domesticating the Juncao technology in Nigeria.’’