(vanguard) The Federal Government has reiterated its committed to strengthening value chains of fisheries, livestock and crops as parts of strategies to reposition agricultural sector of the economy with a view to making the sector as business rather than a development program.
The Permanent Secretary, in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Ezekiel Oyeyomi stated this yesterday in Abuja at a meeting to outline Nigeria’s position for the fish and fisheries product slated for Bali, Indonesia.
He said the ministry has strengthened its quality assurance unit to support industrial fish trawling and recently embarked on certification for aquaculture industry.”
The Permanent Secretary said that the Nigeria’s food safety systems have been receiving substantial international attention of late specially with respect to the establishment of a national food safety committee.
“As part of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s effort to grow agriculture, ensure food security, alleviate poverty, diversify the economy and generate foreign exchange, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has embarked on the implementation of programs to transform the Nigerian agriculture by repositioning agriculture as business rather than development programme.
Represented by the Director of Livestock in the ministry, Dr. Joseph Nyaga, the Permanent Secretary said, “Consequently, various commodity values chains in fisheries, livestock and crops are being strengthened in line with the agricultural transformation agenda of Mr. President.
He stressed further that the National Codex Committee on fish and fishery products and the fish aquaculture industry are important partners in the effort to strengthen food safety in the ministry.
In his remarks, the Acting Director in the Ministry, Akintunde Atanda who represented the Acting Director of Fisheries said Nigeria’s position to the Bali summit which will take place between 1st—5th October 2012 “will be based on scientific evidence on fish and fishery products.
, give direction and purpose for the work of Codex in Nigeria, advice stakeholders on Codex matters and ensure consistency with Codex final text.”
He urged the members of the committee to address the issues involved as they affect the public health and economic activities in relation to food and export of shrimps to European Union countries