Osun State is set to coordinate the food sufficiency program titled Food System Transformation Pathways in the South West.
According to a statement signed by the Osun
Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi on Tuesday, the Federal Government (FG) has appointed the state as the coordinating point for the implementation of the program.
Alimi further explained that the initiative is targeted at boosting nutritious and sufficient food production across Nigeria.
“The Food System Transformation Pathways was initiated by the United Nations (UN) to facilitate well-functioning food systems that will provide higher incomes for small holder farmers and small/medium scale food enterprises, empower women, increase youth employment and increase the amount of money circulating in the economy,” he said.
“The goals of the Food System Transformation Pathways by 2030 include reducing poverty, reducing unemployment, especially among youths, reducing hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.
“The other goals are reducing food imports and promote sustainable food trade, increasing women’s empowerment in agriculture index score and increasing environmental performance index score.”
In the letter addressed to Governor Ademola Adeleke and copied his counterparts in Oyo and Ekiti States, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, said the implementation for the Food System Transformation Pathways in Oyo and Ekiti will be coordinated from Osun state.
Bagudu noted that the decision is in line with the effort of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration step towards achieving nutritious and food security as well as meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) objectives in Nigeria.
“Your Excellency may wish to be informed that the coordination of the three states in the South West Zone is part of efforts to complement the steps towards achieving nutritious and food security as well as SDGs in Nigeria,” he said.
“This is also part of the steps being taken to deepen the achievements of Nigeria as presented at the Stock Taking Moment (STM) in Rome that was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima from 24-26 July, 2023,” the letter conveying the appointment of Osun State read in part.
“The coordination arrangement is to consolidate on the agreed recommendations at the retreat of the State Commissioners of Economic Planning, Agriculture and Health held in Abuja from March 7 to 8, 2024 that reiterated the need for a quarterly review of the implementation on geopolitical zonal basis.
“The Honourable Commissioners for Economic Planning, Agriculture and Health in all the 36 States plus the FCT will therefore be expected to work together for effective delivery of the implementation strategy and multisectoral plan of action for food and nutrition.”
