32m consumers targeted for consumption of bio-fortified cassava, maize

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Nigeria is targeting 32 million consumers of bio-fortified maize and cassava in eight states across Nigeria by 2022.

The Project Manager, Ijudai Jasada, disclosed this during stakeholders and value chain actors’ round-table engagement in the promotion and consumption of Vitamin A maize in Niger State.

According to him, 80 local government areas in eight states would scale up the implementation of bio-fortified cassava and maize production.

Jasada stated that for the Vitamin A cassava, the project targets to reach one million consumers directly and nine million consumers indirectly by the end of the project.

He also stated that for the Vitamin A maize, the project targets to reach five million consumers directly and 17 million consumers indirectly by the end of 2022.

The Project Manager said the eight states involved are Imo, Niger, Kaduna and Oyo for Vitamin A Maize and Osun, Cross River, Nasarawa and Anambra for Vitamin A cassava.

He said the commercialisation of bio-fortified crops project aims to expand production and consumption of bio-fortified crops and foods through market development and to increase farmers’ productivity towards achieving food security in Niger State and Nigeria.

According to him, the measure is also part of efforts at improving nutritional output in rural areas to address the problem of malnutrition.

The Niger State Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industries, Mustapha Jubril, said the importance of Vitamin A to our body development and immunity and its economic benefits to the farmers cannot be overemphasised.

The Commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Baba Wachiko Yahaya, stated that the state is ready to partner with the organisation to promote the consumption of Vitamin A in maize in Niger State.

The Secretary to the Niger State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Economic Affairs, Hussaini Ahmed, assured that the state government would avail farmers with fortified Vitamin A products which would help to address night blindness and other related diseases in addition to improving the revenue base of Niger State