Nigeria, Niger brainstorm on food security

Speaking recently at the inaugural bilateral meeting of Committee of Experts on Trans-boundary Agricultural Pest Cont-rol under the Nigerian, Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation (NNJC), Secretary-General of the commission, Ambassador Abubakar Sulaiman, said these attacks by pests are leading to a considerable drop in food production.“In their quest to improve the livelihood of their people, […]

Speaking recently at the inaugural bilateral meeting of Committee of Experts on Trans-boundary Agricultural Pest Cont-rol under the Nigerian, Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation (NNJC), Secretary-General of the commission, Ambassador Abubakar Sulaiman, said these attacks by pests are leading to a considerable drop in food production.
“In their quest to improve the livelihood of their people, the competent authorities of our two countries are confronted with a major challenge which is food security. In spite of the efforts in the area, our countries are not yet under the lee of food shortage and one of its main causes is the attack of pests such as locusts and Quelea birds on crops, thus leading to a considerable drop in production.
“It is hence deplorable that farming harvests be destroyed due to pest related impacts. It is therefore our duty to make provision for such attacks by possibly using the vast experience of our competent technical services. If we succeed in pooling our efforts together coupled with the use of very performing technical means which are adapted to our environment, we will surely conquer this phenomenon,” he said.
Ambassador Sulaiman said that it is in view of this phenomenon that the Committee of Experts on Pest Control recommended the setting up of Cross-border Joint Surveillance Teams with a view to consequently take concrete and realistic measures.
“As for the present meeting, the Provisional Agenda comprising of drawing up of a common intervention strategy and the proposal of the 2013-2014 prog-ramme of activity for the teams. These two agenda items are not exclusive because you have the latitude to add others that are not only in line with your mission, but also are interest-oriented to both countries,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Director, Federal Department of Live Pest Control, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Joseph Nyager, said neglecting agricultural pest activities in neighboring countries is not in the interest of all the cooperating countries.