ABUJA - The World Bank said yesterday that it will adopt the National Food Security Policy to produce an agricultural development policy support paper for Nigeria ’s Vision 20-2020 agenda.
Dr. Onno Ruhl, the World Bank Country Representative in Nigeria, said this during a visit to Dr. Sayyadi Ruma, the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, in Abuja .
Ruhl stressed the need for collaboration between the bank and the Federal Government to pursue one programme.
He promised that the bank would provide the necessary support toward the successful implementation and sustainability of the National Food Security Programme.
He said special attention would be given in the areas of agricultural research, irrigation, improved productivity and innovative mechanism.
He also said that emphasis would be placed on modern development in poultry, dairy production and fruit tree farming.
Responding, Ruma stressed the need for synergy between both parties to ensure successful implementation of programmes run by both the government and the bank and the elimination of waste, conflict and failure associated with previous programmes.
The minister stressed that the new partnership arrangement aimed at the harmonisation of strategy, crucial to the realisation of the dream of transforming the agricultural sector from its current peasant status to commercial, large-scale farming.
He disclosed that 13 states had been earmarked as pilot states for the Commercial Agricultural Development Programme (CADP).
The World Bank had selected five states including, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, Cross River and Lagos for its CADP project.
The World Bank sponsored CADP project is estimated to cost 100 million dollars (N11.7 billion) and aims at supporting the private sector to drive growth and development of the agricultural sector mostly in the rural areas.
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