Agro-Allied Entrepreneurs Want More Funding to Tackle Malnutrition

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By Chris Nyamtu

Stakeholders in the agricultural sector at a two-day workshop on Safe and Nutritious Food Production and Home Processing have called on the government at all levels to set aside special intervention funds for Small Scale Agro entrepreneurs as part of steps toward tackling malnutrition in the country.

The workshop which was held in Lafia drew participants from four local government areas in each of the Benue and Nasarawa States.

The lead facilitator for the workshop Mr Orngu Africa Orngu in a presentation, said the project which was aimed at strengthening nutrition in priority staples focused on vitamin A Maize, Cassava, and Potato.

He stated that the initiative was to expose the participants who are owners of Small – small-scale agro-outfits to new ways of food processing in their homes to avoid wastage and enhance nutrition.

Some of the participants Mrs Abigail Kashimana and Mr Ehada Isa explained that the training had given them new ways of food processing especially orange-fleshed sweet potatoes to other nutritional products.

Also speaking, Mallam Usman Abdullahi Idris and Mrs Linda Kudu noted that the training had enabled them to acquire more skills in food processing, especially Cassava and maize, stressing the need for the federal and state governments to set aside substantial funds for the support of Small – Scale Agro processors to improve nutrition.

The training which was organized by an international Non-Governmental Organization, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition in partnership with GIZ and the Green Innovation Centre for Agricultural Food Sector in Nigeria, featured demonstrations on how to process Cassava and sweet potato to some local foods.

Over 54 small-scale agro-allied entrepreneurs who are mostly women participated in the training.

Participants at a training on Safe and Nutritious Food Production and Home Processing in Lafia.

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