FG, FAO Move to Harness Untapped Potential in Millet  

James Emejo in Abuja    

The federal government and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) have come together to promote the cultivation, consumption, and commercialisation of millet in the country.

The collaboration will also help to identify the untapped opportunities within Nigeria’s agricultural sector as well as reinvigorate the role of millets as a key driver of economic growth, social development, and environmental sustainability.

Speaking at the inaugural seminar celebrating the International Year of Millets 2023 in Nigeria, FAO Country Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Fred Kafeero, said highlighted the immense nutritional value and their contribution to food security, poverty alleviation, and sustainable agriculture.

Kafeero noted that for centuries, millets have played an important role in the sustenance and nourishment of communities across the globe, with India as the largest producer.

The Director, Nutrition and Food Safety, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Sugra Mamood, said millet, which is deeply ingrained in the country’s heritage and traditions remained of high economic value to farmers and processors.