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World Food Day – Plateau Declares ‘Golden Era’ of Agricultural Rebirth Under Mutfwang Administration
The Plateau State Government has declared the present period as a “golden era of agricultural rebirth,” unveiling sweeping reforms that have transformed food production, livestock development, and rural empowerment under Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang.
The declaration was made during the 2025 World Food Day celebration held at Crispan Suites and Event Centre, Jos, with the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future.” The event was organized by the Plateau State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the Ministry of Livestock Development, Veterinary Services, and Fisheries.
Representing the Governor, the Chief of Staff, Builder Jeremiah Satmark, reaffirmed the administration’s resolve to make agriculture the bedrock of Plateau’s economy.
“Agriculture is not a side project — it is the petrol of our economy, the foundation of our food security, and our pathway to prosperity,” Satmark stated. “Governor Mutfwang’s vision is that every Plateau citizen, regardless of profession, should see agriculture as a gateway to wealth and sustainable development.”
Agricultural Revolution in Motion
Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Samson Ishaku Bugama, described the governor’s “The Time Is Now” agenda as “a revolution driven by action, not rhetoric.”
Under the Land is Green Initiative, over 300,000 farmers have been registered in the state’s new Farmer Data Bank, with a target of two million in the next phase. Through the Input Intervention Programme, the government distributed 18,120 metric tonnes of subsidized fertilizer worth over ₦12 billion and 275,486 kg of improved seeds across the 17 LGAs.
Youth empowerment has remained a priority, with 340 young farmers trained in modern agricultural practices at CSS Farms, Nasarawa—20 from each local government area.
To revive the state’s renowned potato sector, Plateau imported 275 tonnes of certified potato seeds from the Netherlands for multiplication, complemented by infrastructure development under the Special Agricultural Processing Zones (SAPZ) in partnership with the African Development Bank.
Livestock, Fisheries, and Climate-Smart Agriculture
A major highlight of Governor Mutfwang’s administration is the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development, Veterinary Services, and Fisheries—the first of its kind in the state.
The ministry has so far vaccinated 140,000 cows, 50,000 sheep, and 50,000 goats against anthrax and trained 78 Community Animal Health Workers to enhance veterinary outreach.
The government also repurchased the Panyam Fish Farm, signaling renewed focus on livestock and aquaculture. At the Wase Grazing Reserve, ₦185 million was invested in a 30-acre climate-resilient livestock model featuring irrigation facilities, solar power, and over 600,000 Napier grass seedlings.
To mitigate climate-related risks, the state introduced climate-smart weather advisory services and insurance coverage for 27,600 farmers in partnership with Leadway Assurance and PULA Advisors.
Mechanization and Rural Infrastructure
Through the Plateau Agricultural Mechanization Services Corporation (PAMSCO), the state acquired 10 new tractors and 200 power tillers, cultivating over 2,000 hectares for smallholder farmers and easing manual labour.
Governor Mutfwang also reactivated the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) with a ₦3 billion counterpart fund. The project is constructing 331 km of rural roads across Kanke, Mangu, and Quan’pan LGAs, creating over 1,800 jobs and linking farms to markets.
Similarly, the Fadama CARES Programme has reached 147,841 beneficiaries, distributed 4.2 million kg of fertilizer, rehabilitated 67 feeder roads, and provided food support to over 9,000 vulnerable households.
Value Addition and Market Expansion
Under the Plateau Agricultural Commodities Company (PLACOM), 12 warehouses have been renovated to stabilize market prices and store produce. The state has procured 5,000 metric tonnes of farm products and is establishing Plateau Markets in Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt to connect farmers with national buyers.
The Potato Value Chain Support Project has delivered 118 km of rural roads, nine community markets, and 17 spring captures, alongside a Potato Tissue Culture Laboratory in Mangu and three rehabilitated processing centers across the state.
Expert Contributions and Global Partnerships
In his keynote address, Prof. Dauda Bawa of the University of Jos emphasized the urgency of global cooperation on food systems, warning that over 733 million people face chronic hunger worldwide. He commended Plateau’s agricultural reforms as “a model of innovation and partnership.”
An American delegate, Mr. Dawn, representing a renowned U.S. livestock genetics organization, announced plans to partner with Nigerian institutions, including the University of Jos, to improve sheep and goat breeding through artificial insemination and embryo transfer technologies.
Strengthening Agribusiness and MSMEs
Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Mohammed S. Nyalun, highlighted the role of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Plateau’s food value chain, noting that over 50 agro-based businesses have been formally registered and supported with training on packaging, nutrition, and export standards.
He pledged ongoing collaboration with financial institutions to expand access to credit for local processors and exporters.
A Future Rooted in Food Security
The event concluded with an exhibition of agricultural produce, processed foods, and livestock from Plateau’s 17 LGAs—symbolizing the state’s renewed drive to reclaim its place as the food basket of the Middle Belt.
Commissioner Bugama summed it up:
“The achievements we celebrate today are not just statistics — they represent restored livelihoods, renewed hope, and a prosperous Plateau where every farmer counts.”
From mechanization to livestock vaccination, youth training to market access, the Plateau State Government reaffirmed its commitment to feeding both its people and the nation.
Indeed, under Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the time for agricultural prosperity on the Plateau is now.
Two people have died in the United States after contracting Cyclosporiasis, marking the first known deaths linked to the country’s largest recorded outbreak of the disease.
Cyclosporiasis is an infection of the intestine caused by a parasite that thrives in human waste.
The deaths were recorded in Michigan, the state hardest hit by the outbreak.
Reuters reported on Monday that the state health authorities said both patients had serious underlying medical conditions that may have been worsened by the infection and the severe dehydration associated with the illness.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it had confirmed 6,707 laboratory cases nationwide as of 28 July, alongside more than 11,500 suspected cases awaiting laboratory confirmation.
Michigan, the hardest-hit, has recorded 11,234 cases as of Monday, including 193 hospitalisations.
About Cyclosporiasis
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by the microscopic parasite known as Cyclospora cayetanensis.
According to the CDC, people become infected after eating food or drinking water contaminated with human faeces containing the parasite.
Although the disease is not usually life-threatening, it can cause severe illness in some people.
Symptoms include watery diarrhoea, nausea, stomach cramps, loss of appetite, fatigue, and dehydration.
The CDC notes that some infected people may not develop symptoms, while untreated infections can last for weeks or even months, with symptoms disappearing and returning over time.
Outbreak investigation
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has linked part of the outbreak to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms’ operations in central Mexico and served at Taco Bell restaurants.
The affected lettuce has since been recalled.
However, investigators believe the contaminated lettuce does not explain all reported infections and are examining whether other food sources may also be responsible.
Epidemiologists suspect that more than one outbreak may be occurring simultaneously.
READ ALSO: Mendicants, Social Parasites, and Our Rights As Human Beings, By Ifeanyi Uddin
Public health experts told Reuters that recent staffing and funding cuts across US health agencies may have slowed efforts to investigate and contain the outbreak.
Paul Bollyky, an infectious disease expert at Stanford Medicine, was quoted to have said that “Cyclospora is harder to track than many foodborne pathogens because, unlike bacteria, it cannot be grown in the lab or easily genome-mapped to trace an outbreak.”
Mr Bollyky warned that reduced staffing in public health departments could make outbreaks more difficult to investigate and control.
He said the scale of the outbreak raises broader questions about the safety of the US food supply.
“Anytime you have over 10,000 people infected with a foodborne pathogen, you do have to wonder whether this is a canary in the coal mine.”
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