Stakeholders Laud Plateau’s Agricultural Drive At Jos Horticultural Festival

Stakeholders and investors in the agricultural sector have commended the Plateau State Government for its deliberate efforts to transform agriculture and boost food security in the state

The commendation came during the 2026 Horticultural Festival held in Jos, organised in collaboration with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) and other development partners to boost agricultural investment and technical expertise.

The event is meant to showcase Plateau State’s potential to become a top agricultural hub, also attracting farmers, local and international investors with a focus on leveraging the region’s temperate climate and fertile soil for economic growth.

Meanwhile, the Plateau State commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Samson Ishaku Bugama, in his opening remarks, said the strategic partnership with the Kingdom of the Netherlands is to transform the potato value chain, aiming for sustainable farming practices, high-yield production, and improved economic returns for local farmers.

According to him, for the fact that the festival was supported by the Kingdom of Netherlands, highlighted advancements in potato production, strawberries, and various fruits and vegetables, focusing on sustainable farming and export opportunities.

“The festival will feature exhibitions of diverse crops, including fruits, vegetables, and indoor plants, and many others, aiming to improve the production of high-value crops like strawberries and Irish potatoes to enter international markets.

He maintained that the state has officially rebranded “Irish potatoes” to “Plateau Potatoes” and is implementing a seed potato initiative to produce, multiply, and distribute disease-free potato varieties to boost yield beyond traditional subsistence methods.

Bugama has emphasised transitioning from traditional methods to mechanisation, with plans to set up a Tissue Culture Laboratory and use greenhouse technology to ensure sustainable, high-quality, and disease-free seeds.

Speaking on Market Access and Economic Growth, he pointed out that the partnership aims to facilitate the processing of potatoes into products like chips and flour and connect farmers with international markets, thereby boosting the state’s GDP and creating sustainable jobs for youth and women.

“This collaboration is part of the ‘Time Is Now’ administration’s wider agricultural agenda to make Plateau the leading agricultural export hub in Nigeria.

On his part, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Nigeria, Bengt Van Loosdrecht, said his country has shown significant interest in enhancing potato production in Nigeria’s Plateau State, highlighting the potential to leverage Dutch expertise to improve local yields and expand the market.

According to him, the collaboration aimed to establish a Potato Centre of Excellence in Plateau State to boost local skills and introduce high-yield varieties with support from the Netherlands Embassy.

Loosdrecht further said Plateau State produces over 80% of Nigeria’s Irish potatoes, with approximately 300,000 hectares of farmland involved.

“The partnership is aimed to improve economic livelihood for farmers and secure food supply, transforming the local “Irish potato” into a high-value export commodity, he said .

In his welcome address, the Project Coordinator, Potatoes Value Chain, Plateau State, Chief Jerry Gushop, commended the Kingdom of the Netherlands and other partners for providing expertise to Potatoes farmers in the state.