African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for African Development (AUDA-NEPAD) has unveiled a technology to boost food production.
National Coordinator/CEO of AUDA-NEPAD/African Peer Review Mechanism Princess Gloria Akobundu said Africa can reduce poverty by raising growth through agriculture-led development
She spoke at a workshop on “Applications of Juncao Technology and its contributions to the achievement of sustainable agriculture and sustainable development goals in Nigeria”.
To achieve the benefits of Juncao, she noted AUDA-NEPAD/APRM will work with public and private sectors at national and sub-national levels.
The programme, she said, is a partnership between AUDA-NEPAD and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).
“We are concerned with ensuring food security to cushion the effect of COVID-19 towards building long-term resilience for sustainable economic growth …” she noted.
According to her, domesticating Juncao will create direct and indirect jobs, promote agro business, enhance nutrition, curb youth restiveness and boost security…
“We can move closer to attaining Zero Hunger (Sustainable Development Goals 2) if we explore new options as Juncao technology…’’
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr Mohammed Abubakar said the technology can boost Federal Government’s efforts toward sustainable livelihood.
Represented by Director, Abdullahi Abubakar, the minister said the workshop came now that Nigeria is moving from overdependence on oil.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Cui-Jian Chun said the technology would assist Nigeria in food production and animal husbandry.