The Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, CON, revealed that the federal government has injected N309BN into the economy in one year under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s -led administration.
Kyari, who was accompanied by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Aliyu Abdullahi, made this known during the Ministerial Sectoral Update held at National Press Centre, in Abuja recently.
According to him, the Ministry was given 20 deliverables to actualize Mr. President’s 8-point Agenda, which include working with States and Local Governments, and private sector to open up land to boost production (farming) of key staple foods based on their competitive and comparative advantages; Work with States and Local Governments, and private sector to boost processing of key staple foods based on their competitive and comparative advantages.
Also to implement programmes on youth and women empowerment in agriculture, and family livelihood improvement enterprises; Implement the rural transformation programme by working with States and Local Governments to provide basic infrastructures that promote rural development, among others.
According to the Minister, “for food and nutrition security launch of dry season farming, the Ministry was able to facilitate “cultivation of 118,657 hectares of wheat in 15 States in acceleration of all year round farming”, which 107,429 wheat farmers were supported with inputs resulting in output of 474,628 metric tonnes of wheat.
He said: “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.
“Received 2.15 million bags of fertilizer from the Central Bank of Nigeria for distribution to farmers free of charge.
“Improvement of farmland security with provision of additional resources to Agro Rangers and other security agencies.
“Estimated value of N309 billion injected into the economy. In response to the presidential directive, released to National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, for distribution 42,000mt of assorted food commodities from the FGN Strategic Food Reserve.
“Procured and distributed to all States and Federal Capital Territory, 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.”
He also said that as part of the Ministry’s achievements within one year, mechanization was strengthened in this regard for massive food production. The Ministry signed Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU), with John Deere and Tata Africa to assemble in-country and supply 10,000 tractors with implements and accessories at 2,000 units yearly, as well as 100 units of combine harvesters to support production.
He added that 2,000 tractors are to be purchased directly from John Deere out of 10,000 tractors, based on Mr. President’s order, of which 500 are on their way to Nigeria.
Also, the Minister disclosed that the Federal Government through the Ministry had a partnership deal with the Brazilian Government with the sum 995,000 Euros to provide mechanization hubs across the federation including facilitation of supply of 2,000 Belarus tractors, while Greener Hope Mechanization Services is on course.
On agricultural research activities, the Minister said that 23 improved crop varieties were developed by the National Agricultural Research Institutes, certified and released by the National Varietal Release Committee. Improved storage facilities, fabrication of machinery (planters, ploughs, and harvesters).
Meanwhile, on agricultural produce export he said that there is an increase based on the intensification of efforts for the production and processing of soyabean, sesame, ginger, hibiscus and tree crop produce for export based on improvement recorded in the standardization and quality assurance process for exportable agricultural commodities.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Hon Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris stated that the objective was to enlighten, inform and educate Nigerians and the world, to ensure that everyone is carried along through the provision of detailed, relevant credible and timely information.
He added that the federal government was resolute to making sure that in communicating government policies and activities “our watch word is to restore truth to public”.