Head of Gender Unit, Agency for Science and Technology, FCT Education Board, Mrs. Hadiza Ingawa, says the provision of storage facilities will enable farmers to preserve their crops adequately for export.
Ingawa made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday during the World Food Day Celebration marked by Nutrition and Health Research Initiative in Kuje.
She said that farmers’ ability to ensure crop preservation was crucial to the nation’s economic growth, just as food exportation would enhance the country’s Gross Domestic Production (GDP).
“The yam export plan is a welcome development but government needs to do more to sustain the policy by providing adequate storage facilities.
“The yam exportation initiative will create jobs for the teeming youths as many unemployed youths will take advantage of the opportunity to go into its production”.
“The government should encourage mechanised farming by providing farm inputs, implements and tractors for farmers at subsidised rates,’’ she said.
Ingawa identified provision of storage facilities, good roads, soft loans and farm inputs as factors that can sustain the food preservation policy when it is initiated to encourage farmers to grow more food.
She said that yam exportation would not subject the country to hunger contrary to the opinion expressed by some Nigerians.
She however said that it would further boost food production by farmers.
“The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that as the country formally begins the exportation of certified yams, it will not lead to famine in Nigeria.
“The policy would benefit, empower and encourage more farmers to go into yam cultivation in the country,’’ she recalled.
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