The federal government has established a five-year potato strategy plan in order to achieve large potato production, product development, value addition, and processing in the country.
The government expressed confidence that the national potato strategy will follow in the footsteps of the rice policy, ushering in a period of productive competitiveness in the potato industry.
“Potatoes can be commercially grown in 12 states, which holds well for the activities of many stakeholders,” stated Umakhih, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in Jos, Plateau State. The goal of this plan is to secure long-term food and nutrition security while catalyzing the fast development of Nigeria’s potato industry into a financially viable sector of the Agricultural Value Chains as a significant export crop.”
He stated that the ministry is committed to the sector’s development with the purpose of stimulating economic growth through diverse agricultural value chain activities, consequently generating job possibilities for the country’s teeming youths and women.
This was said by Umakhihe at the official unveiling of the National Potato Strategy 2023-2028 in Jos. He stated that the ministry is launching huge manufacturing, processing, value addition, and product development to serve as the foundation for propelling the industries.
The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director of the Federal Department of Agriculture, Abduallahi Abubakar, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to the sector’s development, adding that the goal is to stimulate economic growth through various agricultural value chain activities in order to create job opportunities and improved livelihoods for the country’s teeming youths and women.
According to him, the goal of this plan is to secure long-term food and nutrition security while catalyzing the fast development of Nigeria’s potato industry into a financially competitive sub-sector of the Agricultural Value Chains as a key export crop.
He also stated that the ministry is aware of the agriculture sector’s issues, but “I assure you that necessary measures are being taken to address them accordingly.” Proactive measures, such as this National Potato Strategy, open the door to inclusive cooperation to chart the course forward.”
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang stated in his speech that his government will continue to seek collaboration with key stakeholders on how to enhance potato growing and production in the state.
The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bugama Samson Ishaku, stated that the state is the home of the potato and that all hands must be on deck to guarantee the execution of the National Potato Strategy for long-term food and nutrition security.
