Prof. Abdulkarim Muhammad, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Dutse, confidently asserted that the northern region of Nigeria has the capacity to feed the entire Nigerian population and even engage in agricultural exports to global markets.
However, in his remarks, he stressed the crucial role of government policies in unlocking this potential.
The North-West chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) hosted the Regional Food Science and Technology Summit in Kano, where Mr. Muhammad disclosed this on Thursday.
Citing the abundance of arable land, the don said that the northern region harbours great agricultural potential.
‘If properly developed and harnessed, it will not only satisfy our domestic needs but make Nigeria a global force in food within a short time,’ he explained.
Expressing disappointment, Mr Muhammad underscored Nigeria’s failure to tap into its comparative advantage and prioritize the cultivation of crops like rice, cassava, maize, sorghum, among others.
He called on the federal government to place agriculture as a top priority, recognizing its capacity to catalyze a positive economic turnaround for the nation, owing to its wide-ranging multiplier effects.
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According to her, ‘the theme of the conference signifies the importance of leveraging our culinary heritage, indigenous ingredients, traditional knowledge to create innovative and high-quality global competitive food products.’
‘We must explore avenues for value addition, address issues related to food safety and quality, adopt sustainable production practice and enhance the marketing and distribution network to cater to the demand of an evolving global market,’ she said.
Appealing to all governments, the vice chancellor stressed the critical need for policy implementation in the field of agriculture.
The program, as stated by Zahra’u Bamalli, the chairperson of NIFST’s North-West chapter, was designed to foster the improvement of food production in the north.
Mrs. Bamalli elaborated on how the conference aimed to cultivate collaboration among researchers, industry professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
By fostering collaborations, Mrs. Bamalli highlighted the opportunity to collectively work towards developing practical solutions and strategies aimed at advancing the food industry in northern Nigeria.