Ebonyi renews commitment to achieving zero hunger

4 August 2023

The Ebonyi State Government has renewed its commitment to achieving zero hunger in the southeastern Nigerian state. This was made known during the Zero Hunger Project team’s courtesy visit to the newly appointed Honorable Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon Princess Nkechinyere Iyioku

Hon Iyioku said that State Governor Francis Nwifuru is committed to making Ebonyi State number one in rice, cassava, yam, and livestock in the country and believes that partnership with the Zero Hunger Project will help to achieve the goal.

The courtesy visit aligns with the zero-hunger theory of change concept of “transfer” between “technology and innovation” and “policy analysis and policy engagement for technology uptake”, to ensure policies that can support technology and innovation scaling are put in place. The visit provided an opportunity to brief the Hon Commissioner on the progress made by the project so far in the state, ranging from rice productivity enhancement, rice threshing capacity of the state strengthened with AfricaRice adapted threshers supporting local content in the drive for mechanization and seed system strengthening, to mention a few.

Ebonyi State is one of the poorest states in Nigeria, and hunger is a significant problem. However, the state government is determined to make progress in this area, and the renewed commitment to Zero Hunger is a positive step.

Contributed by Oyewale Abioye