In a renewed effort to combat malnutrition and improve Nigeria’s nutritional landscape, HarvestPlus, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), has developed and released Provitamin A Maize—a biofortified crop designed to tackle Vitamin A deficiency, particularly among children and lactating mothers.
Speaking at the Validation Workshop for the Development of Micronutrient Standards for Biofortified Provitamin A Maize in Abuja, the minister of agriculture and food security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, represented by Dr Mustafa Kokoola, Special Adviser on Innovation Systems and Nutrition Security, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing malnutrition.
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Kokoola stressed that nutrition security is just as crucial as food security, warning that malnutrition and obesity are rising concerns in Nigeria.
“We must address the lack of essential nutrients in our diet. Vitamin A deficiency, for example, can impair vision and, in severe cases, lead to death.
“A person who loses sight due to malnutrition suffers a drop in productivity, affecting the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Addressing malnutrition is not just a health issue—it’s an economic one,” he stated.
He called for concrete efforts to ensure that food consumed by Nigerians is both nutritious and safe rather than focusing solely on food quantity.
Dr Kokoola highlighted the Nutrition N774 Initiative, recently launched by the vice president. This initiative targets all 774 local government areas in Nigeria to combat malnutrition at the grassroots level.
“What works in Nasarawa may not work in Zaria or Lagos due to environmental differences. We must benchmark the nutritional requirements of people in each local government and enhance locally available foods to meet those needs,” he added.
“The federal government, through FMAFS and its development partners, is working to increase the availability of Provitamin A Maize and other biofortified crops. Farmers will receive improved seeds, mechanisation support, and funding to boost production and ensure widespread access to these nutrient-rich crops.”
Also, the director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety at FMAFS, Mr Nuhu Kilishi, reaffirmed the Tinubu-led administration’s commitment to tackling malnutrition nationwide.
He explained that the government also focuses on providing farmers with biofortified seeds rich in vitamin A, Iron, and Zinc.
He noted that these improved seeds, combined with mechanization support and increased funding, will help farmers boost productivity and enhance food quality.
He further disclosed that efforts are underway to expand beyond maize by introducing nutrient-rich tubers and vegetables, including Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) and fortified rice varieties.
The chairman of the Variety Release Committee, Prof. Olusoji Olufajo, emphasised the importance of validating nutrient standards for newly released crop varieties.
“Validating this document is crucial from the variety release point of view because we must ensure that the varieties released to farmers are not only high-yielding but also nutritionally beneficial,” he said.
He explained that the validation process would help set a minimum standard for Provitamin A maise varieties, ensuring they contain the required beta-carotene levels to effectively address vitamin A deficiency in Nigeria.
“When we release a new variety, we must know the amount of Provitamin A it contains. Without a clear standard, it becomes a challenge to measure the impact of these crops on nutrition,” Olufajo added.
“Research is not static. We must continuously improve and validate these standards to align with the latest scientific advancements,” he stated.
A research professor at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and chairman of the Technical Subcommittee on Crop Variety Registration and Release, Prof. Shehu Ado, explained how consumers can identify Provitamin A Maize in the market.
“Provitamin A Maise, also known as Orange Maize, is distinct due to its deep orange colour, similar to carrots, which also contain beta-carotene, a precursor for vitamin A,” he explained.
He stressed the importance of proper grading and labelling of Provitamin A Maise to help consumers easily identify the nutrient-rich variety in the market.
Addressing concerns about biofortification and GMOs, Prof. Ado clarified that biofortified crops, like Provitamin A Maise, are not genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
“Biofortification is achieved through conventional breeding, which enhances the natural nutrient content of crops. This differs from genetic modification, where genes from unrelated organisms are introduced using biotechnology,” he explained.
He noted that only three GMO crops have been approved in Nigeria so far: “Bt Cotton, Bt Cowpea (Beans), Tela Maise (a drought-tolerant and pest-resistant maise variety)
“The focus of biofortification is to use natural breeding techniques to improve crops, ensuring that people get essential nutrients without altering the plant’s genetic makeup unnaturally,” he added.
The Validation Workshop involved researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to finalise micronutrient standards for Provitamin A and Non-Provitamin A maise varieties.
Participants were urged to actively contribute to shaping Nigeria’s nutrition strategy by providing feedback and technical expertise.
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