Plateau State starts food security plan to boost farming

The Plateau State Government has launched a Strategic Food Security Plan. This plan aims to boost farming, improve livelihoods, and ensure food security in the state.

The launch took place in Jos. The plan was created under the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria Programme (SPRING) and carried out by the Supply Chain Research and Innovation Hub (SCRIH) in partnership with the Plateau State Government.

The event gathered people from the state Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, officials from Mangu, Pankshin, and Shendam local government areas, community leaders, researchers, and other stakeholders who helped shape the strategy.

At the launch, Mujidang Sitang, the Regional Programme Manager of SPRING, shared that the project has not only created the Strategic Food Security Plan but also an Early Warning and Early Response Framework. This framework will help the state deal with food security challenges.

Tony Mark Yusuf, who represented Mr Sitang, mentioned that the project also trained security personnel, including members of Operation Rainbow, the state’s security outfit. This training will support efforts to improve food security.

Mr Sitang said the strategy was made through a careful and inclusive process, making it both practical and sustainable. He urged the state government to go beyond just endorsing the document and work on its full implementation.

"We appeal to the government not to allow this document to gather dust on the shelf. It should be implemented because it has the potential to address food security challenges across the state," he said.

Adebayo Adeleke, the Executive Director of SCRIH, was represented by Yusuf Akorede. He said the plan offers a solid framework for changing Plateau’s agricultural sector. It also ensures that women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups are included in efforts to enhance food security.

"The plan we are launching today provides a clear roadmap for coordinated action, effective resource mobilization, and shared accountability.

"But its success will not be measured by today’s launch, but by the actions we take and the results we achieve together in the months and years ahead.

"I urge each of us to remain focused on the bigger picture: a Nigeria where food security is a reality for every household," he said.

Lang Zakka, the Director of Agricultural Services in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, spoke on behalf of the Plateau State Government. He called the partnership a big step towards improving lives, strengthening communities, and promoting sustainable development.

Mr Zakka highlighted the close link between peace and food production.

"There can be no food security without peace and security. This project has helped bring communities together, improved security, and produced encouraging results in the areas where it has been implemented," he said.

He assured stakeholders that the state government would keep up the momentum by implementing the plan.

"The government will take over from where our development partners have stopped. We will ensure this does not remain just a policy document but becomes a working document because peace and food security remain key priorities for the Plateau State Government," he said.