By Binta Shama
Abuja
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has said that the federal government has taken steps to support National Association of Potatoes Farmers (NAPF) and Oil Palm Association of Nigeria with scientific and technical support needed to improve their production that will enable them meet up with the demand of local industries.
He stated this while receiving the executives of POFAN and Oil Palm Producers Association of Nigeria to the office where he assured of commitment to ensure that there is food security in the country.
He assured them of support and the need to embrace the use of improved varieties of potato and Oil palm seeds in addition to the adoption of the used of organic fertilizers and improved planting techniques.
The Minister noted that Agriculture is 90% scientific in the food chain process. According to him, the National Research and Innovation Council through its platform will ensure that there is food security in the country stressing that oil palm is of very important economic value because of the many resources that are associated with it in the production process.
Earlier, the National President of POFAN, Chief Daniel Okafor stated that their aim is to stimulate increased private sector investment in the establishment of potato industries and the promotion of the special type of sweet potato known as Orange Fleshed Sweet potato (OFSP) essentially for its health, economic and wealth benefits.
According to the POFAN President, The Potato farmers want the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to provide technical support to the organization and assist in designing and fabrication of bakery equipment which will be distributed to the 774 Local Government areas of the federation for the establishment of Oranged-Fleshed sweet potato bread/other confectionary such as cake, biscuit, cookies, chips, chin-chin, doughnut, puff-puff, meat pie and starch industry.