By Goodluck Ikiebe
The Green Revolution Farmers Feed the Nation Foundation has concluded plans to empower five million Nigerians through Agriculture by 2025.
The National President of the Foundation, Ambassador Jonathan David Okwudiri, stated this in Enugu, South East Nigeria during the flag off of Operation Feed the Nation 2025, an initiative aimed at feeding the nation by 2025.
“The acronym OFN represents our mission: Operation, Feed, Nation. We are committed to making Nigeria self-sufficient in food production, thereby reducing hunger, hardship, and poverty in the society”.
“As we gather here today, we are reminded of the wise words of our past leaders, who recognized the importance of agriculture in our nation’s development. In 1976, the Federal Military Government launched the Operation Feed the Nation program, which aimed to increase local food production and reduce imports.
Ambassador Jonathan Okwudiri noted that, “Inspired by this vision, we have designed Operation Feed the Nation 2025 to address the current challenges facing our agricultural sector”.
According to him, “Our strategy focuses on Empowering Women and Youth by providing training, funding, and technical support across the six geo-political zones, enabling them to become active participants in the agricultural sector.
“We will promote the use of modern farming techniques, climate-resilient crops, and environmentally friendly practices to ensure sustainable food production.
Improving Market Access: We will establish linkages between farmers, processors, and marketers to ensure that produce reaches the market efficiently and effectively.
Enhancing Capacity Building: We will provide training and capacity-building programs for farmers, extension agents, and other stakeholders to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Ambassador Jonathan Okwudiri stated that by 2025, we aim to achieve the following milestones:
Increase food production by at least 50%; Reduce food imports by at least 30%; Create at least 1 million jobs in the agricultural sector ; Improve the livelihoods of at least 5 million Nigerians.
“We believe that Operation Feed the Nation 2025 has the potential to transform our nation’s agricultural sector and improve the lives of millions of Nigerians”, Okwudiri assured.
“To achieve this ambitious goal, we require the support and partnership of various stakeholders. We respectfully request partnership and sponsorship from:
- The Federal Government of Nigeria
- State Governments of Nigeria
- Federal /State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
- Federal /State Ministry of Livestock Development
- Federal/ State Ministry of Trade , Industry and Investment
- Federal/State Departments of Cooperatives
- International Organizations and Funding Agencies
- Philanthropists and private sector organizations.
Ambassador Jonathan David Okwudiri appealed for donation through the Green Revolution Farmers Feed the Nation Foundation to facilitate the efforts in integrated and mechanized farming across the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“Together, we can make Nigeria a food-secure nation, where every citizen has access to nutritious and affordable food”, Okwudiri remarked.
