Shettima Meets US Special Envoy, Seeks Support For Food Security

On Wednesday, Vice President Kashim Shettima requested US support for the President Bola Tinubu administration’s food security strategy.

During his visit to the US, Shettima informed US Special Envoy for Global Food Security Cary Fowler, “We seek the support of the United States Government, be it technical or otherwise, towards addressing challenges in our agricultural sector.”

In a statement captioned “VP Shettima, US envoy meet over food security,” Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, revealed this information on Wednesday.

He outlined the main areas in which Nigeria would need immediate assistance, stating that “we seek solutions such as automation, high-quality seeds, fertilization, enhanced agricultural practices, and smart agriculture, as the entire focus is on productivity enhancement and yield growth.” It encompasses more than just the land utilized for agriculture.

“Well, other stakeholders here have all the data, information, and experience needed to make this partnership simple and easy to navigate,” the speaker said.

He told the United States Special Envoy for Global Food Security that the Tinubu administration is prepared to work with pertinent parties to increase agricultural productivity, both within the nation and throughout Africa.

Even though the nation will support the alliance, he stated that Nigeria will maintain its current partnerships with agricultural partners.

He continued, “We will nurture it because we are facing challenges with food security now more than ever.”In order to overcome the obstacles, we need to think creatively and find novel ways to solve problems.

“I think that together, with your help—the political will is stronger than it has ever been—we can save humanity and advance the welfare of humanity.”

In reply, Fowler revealed that the United States government, in collaboration with many stakeholders, has initiated an agricultural program, guaranteeing that Africa will receive top priority.
He stated, “What we are attempting to accomplish here in the US is a partnership between the US, the AU, and the FAO, which we have named the ‘Vision for Adapted Crops and Soil.'”

In conclusion, our goal in collaborating with African nations is to support them in improving soil management at all levels, from the national to the farmer, in order to guarantee sustainability and productivity (that is, soil-related aspects).

Regarding crops, Fowler stated that climate change and its impact on Africa are “very concerning” for the United States.

“Therefore, the focus of this program with the AU and FAO is Africa,” the Special Envoy stated.

He said that the study “will examine native African crops that have long been severely underinvested in.”

“To secure long-term support for the program, we have created a multi-donor trust fund within the IFAD, with USAID also participating. The US government has given the initiative $100 million,” Fowler continued.

Nonetheless, the ambassador emphasized that parties involved “need to work in a collaborative way” with nations such as Nigeria.

“In order to advance this, we need your cooperation and political backing. These efforts need to be institutionalized, made more permanent, and strongly represented by the African community. We want Africans to lead this effort,” he added.

Shettima is anticipated to return to Nigeria this weekend after attending the Belt and Road Initiative in China and then traveling to the US.