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Tag: Sabi Abdullahi

  • Minister assures farmers of enhanced support through electronic extension platform

    Minister assures farmers of enhanced support through electronic extension platform

    The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, has assured farmers that the newly launched National Electronic Extension Platform (NEEP) will enhance outreach efforts and provide immediate access to essential agricultural information, methods, and techniques to boost productivity.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the NEEP back-end office in Abuja, Abdullahi emphasized that the platform will play a crucial role in addressing the challenges of extension service delivery in Nigeria. 

    He highlighted the current extension agent-to-farmer ratio of 1:25,000, describing it as unsustainable for effective agricultural development.

    The Nation learnt that the NEEP is designed to offer real-time solutions to Nigerian farmers, contributing to the country’s food security goals.

     It will also integrate the National Agricultural Research and Extension System (NARES) and other key institutions, expanding extension services while mitigating security risks associated with in-person visits.

    To ensure inclusivity,  the minister noted that the platform is accessible in multiple languages, including English, Pidgin, Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo, enabling farmers across different linguistic backgrounds to benefit. 

    Read Also: Elebuibon: Why there’s growing urge for money rituals

    Through NEEP, farmers can send inquiries and receive real-time responses, while extension agents will have access to a comprehensive agricultural knowledge database.

    Describing NEEP as a “dynamic, robust, and engaging virtual platform,” Abdullahi stated that it aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda for national food security.

     He expressed optimism that NEEP, as Nigeria’s “master online extension agent,” will empower farmers and contribute to achieving the administration’s agricultural goals.

  • ‘National dairy policy will save us $1.5b’

    ‘National dairy policy will save us $1.5b’

    Minister of State for Sabi Abdullahi,  has said implementation of National Dairy Policy will save $1.5 billion spent annually on milk importation.

    The minister, who spoke on this year’s World Milk Day, noted the Federal Government would galvanise stakeholders to implement the policy to boost food production.

    Addressing reporters in Abuja, Abdullahi noted challenges of the sector and pledged support of the Federal Government to address them.

    The minister said with an estimated two million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) partly due to limited consumption of animal-source food, milk consumption becomes important in addressing the situation.

    He said Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reported Nigeria spends $1.5 billion yearly to import dairy products.

    According to him, this is because of Nigeria’s production deficit, which is nearly 60 per cent as we consume an average of 1.6 billion litres of milk and dairy products yearly.

    Abdullahi said: “These and many more formed the foundation upon which the National Dairy Policy was developed as the radar for the journey of transformation of this industry in Nigeria over the next years.

    “I want to assure you that the President is concerned and wants a reversal of the negative state of the dairy industry. Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is ready for the challenges as we work hard to renew the hope of dairy value chain actors. 

    “The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with national and international partners …would, in the next few years, work and strategically within the approved National Dairy Policy, which will be unveiled on June 4, by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

    “The implementation will guaranty programmes, projects and interventions to ensure improved dairy farming, increased investment in dairy processing and preservation, institute evidence-based policy implementation, promote collaboration, create ease of business for dairy industry, foster public-private partnerships, embrace technology and innovation and many more.”

    Read Also: Nigeria to save $1.5b on milk importation by implementing national dairy policy, says minister

    Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN) President, Muhammadu Abubakar, described the dairy industry as a hotbed of opportunities for wealth creation, and for nutrition security.

    He said the theme of this year’s World Milk Day celebrations: Harnessing the Nutrition and Investment Opportunities in the Dairy Value Chain, was apt.

    “We are confident the event, especially the conference and exhibitions, will yield practical recommendations for the sustainable development of the dairy industry. We also hope the Federal Government will extend more support to the dairy industry and its players.

    “We call on members of CODARAN and players in the dairy industry to affirm their commitment to and increase their investments in backward integration to enhance the transformation of Nigerian dairy industry into a major contributor to its socio-economic development,” he said.

  • Nigeria to save $1.5b on milk importation by implementing national dairy policy, says minister

    Nigeria to save $1.5b on milk importation by implementing national dairy policy, says minister

    The minister of state for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, has said implementing the National Dairy Policy will save Nigeria $1.5 billion it spends annually importing milk.

    The minister, who said this as the world marked this year’s World Milk Day, revealed that the federal government plans to galvanize stakeholders to fully implement the policy will boost the agricultural sector.

    Addressing reporters in Abuja, Abdullahi highlighted some of the challenges of the dairy sector and pledged the support of the Federal Government to address them.

    He said with an estimated two million children in Nigeria suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) partly due to limited consumption of animal-source food, the role of milk consumption becomes very important in addressing the situation.

    Theinister pointed out that the Central Bank of Nigeria reported that Nigeria spends $1.5 billion per annum to import dairy products. 

    According to him this is because of Nigeria’s production deficit which stood at nearly 60 percent as Nigerians consumed an average of 1.6 billion litres of milk and dairy products.

    He said: “These and many more formed the foundation upon which the National Dairy Policy was developed as the radar for the journey of transformation of this crucial industry in Nigeria over the next years ahead.

    “I want to assure you all that the President is sincerely concerned and urgently wants a reversal of the negative state of the dairy industry; and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is ready for the challenges ahead as we work hard to renew the hope of dairy value chain actors. 

    “The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food security in collaboration with national and international partners (many of whom are present here today) would in the next few years work assiduously and strategically within the approved National Dairy Policy; which will be unveiled on 4th June 2024 by HE Vice President Kashim Shettima.

    Read Also: Nigeria spends $1.7b annually on milk importation, says MACBAN

    “Implementation of the new Dairy policy will guaranty programmes, projects and interventions to ensure improved dairy farming practices, increased investment in dairy processing and preservation, institute Evidence-based Policy implementation, promote Collaboration, create ease of business for dairy industry, foster public-private partnerships, embrace technology and innovation and many more.”

    The President of Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN), Muhammadu Abubakar, said the dairy industry is a hotbed of opportunities, both for wealth creation, and for nutrition security.

    He said the theme of the World Milk Day Celebrations 2024, “Harnessing the Nutrition and Investment Opportunities in the Dairy Value Chain,” was apt.

    “We are confident that the event, especially the conference and exhibitions, will yield practical recommendations for the sustainable development of the dairy industry. We also hope that the Federal Government of Nigeria will extend more support to the dairy industry and its players. 

    “We call on all Members of CODARAN and all the players in the dairy industry to affirm their commitment to and increase their investments in backward integration to enhance the transformation of the Nigerian dairy industry into a major contributor to Nigeria’s socio-economic development”, he said.