‘We must support and reorganise smallholder farmers’ – Prof Mustapha

Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have met in Abuja to celebrate the contribution of smallholder farmers in reducing hunger and malnutrition in the country.

Speaking at the ‘World Hunger Day’, Dinner and the Launch of ‘National Farmers Day’ Sunday in Abuja organised by the Alliance for Science in collaboration with the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa, Nigeria Chapter, under the auspices of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), they agreed that there was “still much work to be done.”

Director General/CEO, the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, said that one way to address this issue is by supporting and recognizing the contributions of smallholder farmers who grow crops and foods that are the backbone of the food systems in these countries.

“The primary aim of this event is to use the commemoration of the World Hunger Day to launch a ‘National Farmers Day’ as a campaign for the Global South to showcase the role that agricultural biotechnology can play in ending hunger in our lifetime. This is why we are bringing together a cream of distinguished personalities to discuss ways of promoting sustainable agricultural practices that will support government efforts in addressing the challenges of food and nutritional security,” the DG said.

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In his remarks, Dr Jean Baptiste, AATF Regional Representative for West Africa, asked guests to “take a moment to reflect on the challenges faced by our farmers. The agricultural sector has always been subject to numerous uncertainties and adversities, be it unpredictable weather patterns, pests, diseases, or market fluctuations.”

In her speech, Dr Rose M. Gidado, Director of the NABDA’s Agricultural Biotechnology Department, emphasized the significance of stakeholders acknowledging the efforts of smallholder farmers who produce the staple foods and crops for these nations’ food systems.