Sule Aliyu, Bauçhi
Worried by global food security crisis, the Northeast Governors’ Forum (NEGF), has resolved to continue to invest in Agriculture Value Chain and encourage the transformation of subsistence farming into Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
The NEGF comprise of the Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States.
In a communique issued at the end of their 10thmeeting in Bauchi, the forum noted that the world was passing through a horrific food security crisis, especially with the war in Ukraine, climate, change and poor agricultural practice.
“In the Northeast, member states, resolved to continue to invest in Agriculture Value Chain and encourage the transformation of subsistence farming into SMEs,” the Governor of Borno State Babagana Umara Zullum, who read the communique, said.
According to the governors “As we all know, the rising cost of food in the country has worsened and we need to put more effort in revamping the economic condition in our sub-region in arresting this situation because palliative is not a permanent solution.
“We need to commit our self-sufficiency in food and agricultural raw materials, and the social transformation of the sector will remain unshaken. We need to modernise and raise the productivity of the agricultural sector through the provision or acquisition of appropriate technologies.”
He said the governors must not lose sight of the need to encourage domestic production of commodities in line with policies and programmes to tackle the rising cost of food in the sub-region.
“We need to have focus in making our sub-region self relying to such occasional problems. We must always seek to maintain a healthy balance between short-term relief and the medium and long goals of our policy.
“Our economy needs resuscitation, and this is a task that requires collective and concerted efforts from all and sundry,” they also said
“The member states of the forum will support the procurement of improved drought-resistant and short-maturation seedlings, subsidise fertilizers and ensure that the region specialises in the production of such seeds”
The Forum appreciated the Government and People of Bauchi State for hosting the meeting, resolved to hold the 11th Meeting of the Forum in Damaturu, Yobe State between 30th-31st August 2024