In pursuit of its delivery agenda for Vitamin A Cassava initiative and preparation for the 2015 planting season, HarvestPlus Nigeria has held a three-day work-planning/review meeting with its 16 partners from four target states of Imo, Benue, Akwa-Ibom and Oyo as well as stakeholders in the agricultural sector. The three-day meeting, held recently at the Rockview Hotels, Owerri, Imo State, reviewed HarvestPlus’s activities in 2014 and set the agenda for 2015.

According to Paul Ilona, Country Manager, HarvestPlus Nigeria, “Part of the agenda for this year include dissemination of improved Vitamin A cassava stems to over 700,000 farmers; establishment of over 300 processing centres for Vitamin A cassava; establishment of over 300 points of sale for Vitamin A cassava food products and confectionery; ensuring that at least three million Nigerians consume Vitamin A cassava products this year; and, reaching out to over 50 million Nigerians with information on Vitamin A cassava initiative.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Imo State, Chief Frank Ibezim, while declaring the work-planning session and Vitamin A Cassava products exhibition open, said: “Imo State is happy to host HarvestPlus and its partners. We will support you in your drive to ensure that Nigerians have access to healthier and more nutritious foods using the Vitamin A Cassava initiative.”

He called on HarvestPlus and partners to sustain the fight against hidden hunger, poverty reduction and empowerment of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Highlights of the three-day meeting include visits to local processors of Vitamin A Cassava as well as fabricators of cassava processing equipment in the state. The team also paid visits to Amauzari Vitamin A Cassava model village under the management of Forward Africa, one of HarvestPlus’s partners in Imo State.

•Photo shows L-R: Country Manager, HarvestPlus Nigeria, Paul Ilona; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Imo State, Mrs Lillian Asuzu; Commissioner for Agriculture, Imo State, Chief Frank Ibezim; and Mr Romanus Onye, Executive Director, Imo State Agricultural Development Project (ADP), during the three-day Annual HarvestPlus/Partners Work-Planning Meeting at Rockview Hotel, Owerri, recently. HarvestPlus targets 700,000 farmers for Vitamin A Cassava stem multiplication, 300 investors in the value chain and over 3 million Nigerians to consume Vitamin A Cassava food products in 2015.

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