Agric Ministry Outlines Eight Priority Areas to Address Nutritional Needs

Agric Ministry Outlines Eight Priority Areas to Address Nutritional Needs

Abuja, Nigeria – The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has announced a comprehensive strategy to tackle Nigeria’s nutritional challenges, outlining eight key priority areas.

This initiative was disclosed during the National Council on Nutrition (NCN) meeting in Abuja, presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The outlined priorities are:

1. Enhancing Value Chains: Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural value chains to ensure that nutritious foods are produced, processed, and distributed efficiently.
2. Diversifying Household Production and Consumption: Encouraging households to produce and consume a variety of foods to meet their nutritional needs.
3. Improving Access to Micronutrient-Rich Foods: Ensuring that populations, especially vulnerable groups, have access to foods rich in essential vitamins and minerals.
4. Enhancing Food Safety Along the Value Chain: Implementing measures to ensure that food safety is maintained from production to consumption.
5. Building Resilience and Social Protection Networks: Developing systems to protect vulnerable groups from nutritional deficiencies and food insecurity.
6. Promoting Nutrition Research: Encouraging and funding research to develop innovative solutions to nutritional problems.
7. Improving Agricultural Sector Capacity: Strengthening the ability of the agriculture sector to address food security and nutrition issues.
8. Creating a National Nutrition Dashboard: Establishing a dashboard managed by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to monitor and coordinate nutrition-related efforts across the country.

Commitment to National Nutrition

Vice President Shettima, who chairs the NCN, emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among ministries, departments, agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders to address malnutrition and food insecurity.

He underscored the alignment of these initiatives with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to improving the nutritional well-being of Nigerians.

Shettima highlighted the urgent need to address the root causes of the food crisis to develop resilient and sustainable food systems. He praised the contributions of various stakeholders and reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to collaborative efforts for national benefit.

Focus on Sustainable Solutions

The introduction of a national nutrition dashboard aims to enhance oversight and coordination of nutrition-related activities nationwide. This tool will be accessible via the NCN website and managed by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Abubakar Atiku Bagudu emphasized that prioritizing nutrition is crucial for national development.

He noted that the new initiatives would bolster efforts to secure food and nutrition security across Nigeria.

The NCN meeting included updates on the current nutritional status of Nigeria and focused on actionable recommendations to improve existing nutrition programs.

The comprehensive approach outlined by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security aims to address both immediate and long-term nutritional challenges, ensuring a healthier future for all Nigerians.