The bid by the Tinubu administration to ensure food security through transformation of agricultural productivity in the country has received a major boost with a consortium of mid-sized agriculture companies pledging to support millions of farmers across different value chains in the country.
Speaking during the group’s courtesy visit to the presidential villa yesterday, Vice President Kashim Shettima commended the efforts of the young entrepreneurs, particularly in “seeking practical solutions to challenges confronting the nation”.
Sen. Shettima who welcomed their partnership said, “Mid-sized companies like yours should be the drivers of change in our nation. We can work as a team towards addressing our core challenges.”
The vice president in a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, noted President Tinubu’s leadership and commitment to stimulating growth in the economy, especially working with the private sector.
He called on the private sector, including financial institutions, to support the government’s drive to transform agricultural production and improve the welfare of Nigerians.
The vice president stressed the need to engage small-holder farmers with the view to increasing their productivity as part of measures towards achieving the country’s food security objectives.
Leader of the delegation and CEO of AFEX, Mr Akinyinka Akintunde, said the group was at the presidential villa to pledge its support to government’s programmes and policies in the agricultural sector.
He said the group is proposing an initiative that would support two million farmers across four value chains (rice, maize, sorghum and soyabeans) to enhance sustainable agriculture and ensure the success of the food security drive of the federal government.
