From Shuaibu Zubair Tatu, Birnin Kebbi
The Project Coordinator of Large Scale Food Fortification, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Mr Seun Elere, has disclosed that Kebbi State will be the first state in Nigeria and West Africa to produce fortified rice.
Elere made the statement during a training of media personnel on Promoting Rice Fortification in the Nigeria (PRiFN) in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.
He said,” Kebbi state will be the first state, not only in Nigeria but in the whole West African countries to produce fortified rice.
“Already ,we are working with Rice Mills like Wacot, Labana, Lolo Rice Mills, and other Modular Rice Mills on how to fortify their rice.
“We are doing this to strengthen large scale production, and we are creating enabling environment for this processes.”
According to him, promoting rice fortification in the Nigeria (PRiFN) is an initiative between GAIN and the UN WFP.
“PRiFN aims to develop, strengthen and sensitise initiatives for monitoring food trends and flow.
“PRiFN is also to modify agricultural and food trade policies in favour of rice fortification in Nigeria.
Earlier, the World Food Programme (WFP)’s Food Fortification Expert in Nigeria, Mr Ekene Onyeagba, said the WFP worked together in partnership with national and local governments, United Nations’ Agencies as well a private sector and communities to serve the people.
Also speaking, Mr Philip Ortese, a GAIN Nigeria representative, said that the objective of the media training was specifically to introduce the PRiFN project and its planned activities for the pilot to media personnel in the state.
On her remarks, Hajiya Aisha Usman, the Chairperson, the state Food and Nutrition Committee, and Permanent Secretary state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, expressed optimism that the training would make a great difference to the people of the state.
