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Kaduna farmers trade Vitamin A maize worth N8b

The Country Director of HarvestPlus, Dr Yusuf Dollah has said over N8 billion worth of Vitamin A maize was traded in Kaduna State thereby creating markets for the small holder farmers.

Dollah, who made this known at the 9th edition of the Nutrition and Food Fair held in Kaduna State with the theme: 'Transforming Food System for Improved Nutrition and Climate Resilience', said the finding was done through a survey conducted in the state.

While noting that they received funding from Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and AGRA to strengthen markets because they realised the constraints farmers face as a result of poor seed, he said the bio fortified value chain in Nigeria is a multibillion naira industry which should be prioritised.

He said they are working with the funding with AGRA and FCDO to ensure that they strengthen market linkages so that the farmer can convert his produce to cash whenever wants.

He said: ''Between the months of June, July and August. We did a market survey and we collected data in Kaduna State here from Soba Market, Makarfi, Lere , Saminaka, Kubau, Pancho. Now within these 3 months, over N8 billion of grains Vitamin A Maize was traded in the states and these is creating markets for the small holder farmers", he said.

''In Nigeria, HarvestPlus promotes vitamin A Cassava, Vitamin A Maize Iron and Zinc enriched Millet, the Vitamin A enriched sweet potatoes and they also commenced work on developing Zinc rice, which will be released soon.

 "As we develop these varieties, we enure that we don't leave the varieties on the shelves at the research Institute.

We ensure that we bring out these varieties so that our seeds companies who are into commercializations will have access to the early generation seeds for them to multiply it and sell to the Agro dealers in our communities so that our farmers who are producers in the communities also have access to these seeds from the Agro dealer shops.

 The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe in her remarks, said satistics from several sources have shown that Nigeria occupies a not so enviable position in the world which regards to rate of stunting and underweight.

She called for the need to create and adopt innovative and evidence based solutions that can enhance the production, processing, marketing and consumption of nutritious and climate smart foods.

 In his remarks, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Sabi Abdullahi said Nigeria has the second largest burden of stunted children in the world.

“With a national prevalence rate of 32 per cent children under 5 which is estimated at 2 million children who suffer from severe acute malnutrition but only two out of every 10 children affected are currently reached with any treatment,” he said.