By Teryima Andrew
President Muhammadu Buhari has tasked governors of Plateau, Kebbi, Lagos, Delta,Taraba and Ebonyi states with seven ministers to ensure food security in the country.
Commissioner for information and communication Plateau state Hon Yakubu Dati Made the disclosure Sunday in a press release issued in Jos, Plateau state.
“The other state governors in the council are the governors of Kebbi, Lagos, Delta,Taraba Ebonyi and the seven cabinet ministers are that of Agriculture and rural development, Finance, interior, industry, trade and investment, water resources, environment and budget and National planning.”
Expects had two weeks ago predicted possible famine among many states in Nigeria between this June and August 2018, following protracted clashes between herders and farmers, destroying farm produce.
The statement noted that the six state governors were slated to proffer solution on food security base on their administrative performance in agriculture “the council has only six states governors with proven commitment to agriculture.”
The committee according to Mr. Dati, President Buhari shall personally supervise the council as a means of achieving desire success.
“The council is chaired by no less a personality than the President Muhammadu Buhari.”
According to the Plateau state spokesman, governor Lalong was included in the council due to his administration efforts on boosting agricultural production.
It will be recalled that President Buhari had during his state visit to Plateau state recently commissioned a 400 unit tractors procured by the Plateau state government for a farmer ownership scheme at a subsidized rate this farming season.
Governor Lalong has last year resuscitate the moribund Bokkos fertilizer blending plant, currently producing fertilizer in large quantity not just for Plateau state farmers.
Hon Dati said the Bokkos fertilizer plant has already commenced mass production serving not just north central states but with other geopolitical zones of the country.
“Bokkos fertilizer blinding plant is now one of the biggest plants in the country which has supplied fertilizer to not only the state but other States in the North Central & North Eastern Regions of the country.”
It stressed that “Modern tomato farming is on the increase With a lot of green houses springing up all over the state as well as improvement in rice farming.
Another giant stride in the sector is that potato farming is receiving a boost which has resulted in Plateau being selected as the only state to run the national potato value chain,” the commissioner further stated.
The information commissioner explained that it was in furtherance of the desire to encourage a robust agricultural sector, that th governor created the enabling environment and sponsored the first ever farmers’ summit in the state which resulted in in far reaching resolutions.
