Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has said that the incumbent administration has injected N309 billion in the economy, through wheat production.
Kyari stated that contrary to widespread hunger in the country and perceived silence of the president, the government had supported 107,429 wheat farmers with inputs resulting in output of 474,628 metric tonnes.
The Minister, who stated this yesterday at the sectoral update of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, yesterday in Abuja, said: “Food and nutrition security launch of dry season farming with cultivation of 118,657 hectares of wheat in 15 states in acceleration of all year round farming.
“Supported 107,429 wheat farmers with inputs resulting in output of 474,628 metric tonnes. Estimated Value of N309 billion injected into the economy.
“In response to Presidential directive, released to NEMA for distribution 42,000mt of assorted food commodities from the FGN Strategic Food Reserve
“Procured and distributed to all states and FCT 58,500 metric tonnes of milled rice, to dampen escalating prices.
“Fortification of crops with Vitamin A micro-nutrient to enrich nutrition content and health value of food commodities.
“In response to persistent food inflation, the following measures were undertaken to boost production: Distributed 60,432mt of improved seeds, 887,255mt seedlings, 138nos. value kits, 501,726 litres of agrochemicals, 62,328.5 metric tonnes of inorganic fertilizers, 1,000kg fungicide, and 33,200nos equipment to farmers across different value chains to enhance production.”
He complained that smallholder farmers in rural areas still suffer because a large chunk of funds budgeted to help did not get to them.
He said: “Over 90% of our farm lands are occupied by smallholder farmers. My village has not changed in the last 30 or 40 years.
“And you think about all the interventions that the previous governments have been doing. https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=0&client=ca-pub-6321061981120130&output=html&h=161&slotname=3311717487&adk=3244143049&adf=3651594294&pi=t.ma~as.3311717487&w=641&abgtt=6&fwrn=4&lmt=1716963822&rafmt=11&format=641×161&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsunnewsonline.com%2Fn309bn-injected-into-economy-in-1-year-agric-minister%2F&wgl=1&dt=1716968011713&bpp=2&bdt=2958&idt=732&shv=r20240523&mjsv=m202405230101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D6e400ba819396b22%3AT%3D1715592776%3ART%3D1716968011%3AS%3DALNI_Mbkhv9CYbD7jrYh5KKrP4AzIc7fJg&gpic=UID%3D00000d72b4c69332%3AT%3D1715592776%3ART%3D1716968011%3AS%3DALNI_MZWhH2FAHpzqNIKBFUo69g_rAszhw&eo_id_str=ID%3D57dad8dee7fcaf6d%3AT%3D1715592776%3ART%3D1716968011%3AS%3DAA-AfjZijfACH8ejrmzovdv6WNUl&prev_fmts=0x0%2C150x600%2C641x280%2C641x161%2C300x250%2C300x600%2C1349x615&nras=2&correlator=1091315091714&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=520188501.1715560271&ga_sid=1716968012&ga_hid=1076970010&ga_fc=1&rplot=4&u_tz=60&u_his=4&u_h=768&u_w=1366&u_ah=728&u_aw=1366&u_cd=24&u_sd=1&adx=307&ady=2779&biw=1349&bih=615&scr_x=0&scr_y=320&eid=44759875%2C44759926%2C44759837%2C31083637%2C31083906%2C95331982%2C95331954&oid=2&psts=AOrYGsn0amB_mWV3EXb83-8ZPTdPM8kRc1eSoUSh_vWLcpcdTGfoABGgt5tcj3Cl0n5O4HG3G6EF4E5B1bO5uiX-bciwZdtR%2CAOrYGsl-bDfea1SJvU2keWxv8pbFmlVqK_JWSDENXjyugfj_5dKJuEkHLaA0W1hA1IbeHHk7IQixZLA3wLFv9Rzgjtt4PvQ%2CAOrYGskuUbOvvp8HLdlMEbEqSckpMq1iFY6H0Iz_kL471O_X2jz7cGOg-0j5PXCt1nSXSDlLMDdHdL-MSs3pyXk9L9G34JJt%2CAOrYGsnn8Q8sL2C-bVfXY1cMI0sYVa0nQkAXO0YIOPF9K_y6QFBcuiMz99Kktdd7IniV6ElWysHAUL1Sf4IBGv8zsVcetyiY%2CAOrYGsm_tIXMu8oszwdVg79XbPiIucrAgTtxLuhWDOPCuJM4eMh_NjgsgTugzafY-QLK2bRyLMUjY8FkWk-ywyc0YLHIXQ&pvsid=140136861740598&tmod=1107973216&nvt=1&fc=1920&brdim=-8%2C-8%2C-8%2C-8%2C1366%2C0%2C1382%2C744%2C1366%2C615&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=128&bc=31&bz=1.01&ifi=5&uci=a!5&btvi=4&fsb=1&dtd=18339
“All the monies that have been spent in agriculture that is meant to target the smallholder farmers and if all the interventions have really gotten to them will those villages still be in the same situation? We are trying to target the actual farmers.
On the way forward, he said the government would recapitalise Bank of Agriculture and Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation for access to credit and de-risking agricultural production.
According to him, the government will strengthen institutions and agencies like “NADF, Universities, Research Institutions and Colleges of Agriculture Improve agricultural production, food security and boost export potential.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Abdullahi Sabi, revealed that the government would introduce hydroponic farming and green house farming, in large scale, in the next budget.
“What we are planning to do in this year’s budget, for example is to introduce hydroponic farming and green house farming.
