The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) has urged schools to adopt the Young Farmers Club initiative to boost productivity, inclusivity, and food security nationwide.
Minister of State Aliyu Abdullahi, addressing a delegation from Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Dutse Makaranta, in Abuja, said this move would enhance agricultural practices already established within schools.
Current school agricultural practices include poultry, fish farming, vegetable gardening, and ruminant farming, among others.
This initiative aligns with the upcoming 2024 World Food Day, highlighting the human right to adequate, available, and accessible food, as enshrined in Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) since 1966.
The decision to promote the Young Farmers Club followed a visit by Ministry officials to GGSS, marking part of the World Food Day celebrations.
He said, “Government is stepping up production and means to ensure that food is accessible and affordable to Nigerians and with proper planning and programming, we can drive the vision where schools will begin to eat what they produce
“The Ministry through the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN, will soon kick start the process of adopting GGSS Dutse under the “Adopted School programme”.
He further revealed that the Ministry is ready to support the initiative and advocate for more funding as food security is a key priority of the present administration.
The school’s Principal, Mrs. Fatima Mohammad, thanked the federal government for selecting the school for the initiative, noting that the Minister’s visit would be memorable.