Plateau unveils food security plan, targets stronger output

The Plateau State Government has launched a strategic food security plan aimed at strengthening the state’s agricultural system and improving food security.

The initiative, unveiled recently in Jos, was developed under the SPRING Programme and implemented by the Supply Chain Research and Innovation Hub in collaboration with the Plateau State Government, according to a statement on Tuesday.

Representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development from Mangu, Pankshin and Shendam Local Government Areas, alongside community leaders, researchers and other stakeholders, contributed to the development of the plan.

Speaking at the launch, the Regional Programme Manager of SPRING, Mujidang Sitang, said the project had produced both a strategic food security plan and an early warning and early response framework for Plateau State.

Represented by the Regional Grant Officer of SPRING, Tony Yusuf, Sitang said security personnel, including members of the state’s security outfit, Operation Rainbow, had also received training under the programme.

According to him, the project was implemented with a high level of professionalism, providing a strong foundation for effective and sustainable implementation.

He urged the state government to go beyond endorsing the plan by ensuring its full implementation. He said the framework had the potential to address food security challenges if effectively implemented.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of the Supply Chain Research and Innovation Hub, Adebayo Adeleke, said the plan was designed to strengthen the agricultural sector while ensuring that women, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups participated actively in efforts to improve food security across the state.

Represented by Yusuf Akorede, Adeleke said, “The plan we are launching today provides a clear roadmap for coordinated action, effective resource mobilisation, and shared accountability.

“However, its success will not be measured by today’s launch, but by the actions we take and the results we achieve together in the months and years ahead. I urge each of us to remain focused on the bigger picture of the plan: a Nigeria where food security is a reality for every household.”

Responding on behalf of the state government, the Director of Agricultural Services in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Lang Zakka, said the partnership was aimed at improving livelihoods, strengthening communities and enhancing agricultural development.

He added that the initiative was also intended to promote peace and security in farming communities, noting that food security could not be achieved without a stable and secure environment.

Zakka said the project had helped strengthen cooperation among communities and improve security in participating areas, with positive outcomes already being recorded.

He assured stakeholders that the state government would continue implementation from where the development partners had stopped.

According to him, the government intends to ensure that the food security plan becomes a working document rather than merely a policy document, as it prioritises peace and food security across the state.