The Federal Government says it is intensifying efforts to restock the nation’s Strategic Food Reserves as part of plans to enhance food security, stabilise prices, and strengthen liquidity in the agricultural sector.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this during a tour of agricultural facilities in Kaduna, alongside the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Aliyu, and other stakeholders. The visit was held on the sidelines of the 47th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS).
Kyari said the government’s renewed food reserve strategy will support farmers to produce all year round, particularly during the dry season.
“Farmers are concerned about the crash in food prices despite high input costs. President Bola Tinubu is addressing this by balancing citizens’ welfare with farmers’ interests,” Kyari said.
“We will soon stock up our strategic reserves, which will inject financial liquidity into the sector and enable farmers to expand production.”
He expressed satisfaction with the level of interest in local food production and processing, noting that the sector’s growing participation aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for food security and self-sufficiency.
The minister’s team visited several facilities, including Olam Agri, TMDK Agro Park, DEBRANCH Farmers, the Afriexim Bank Quality Assurance Office, and Tomato Jos — a major tomato processing company in Kaduna.
Tomato Jos Chief Executive Officer, Mira Mehta, said the firm focuses on producing high-quality tomato paste from locally grown tomatoes, supporting smallholder farmers and promoting local consumption.
“We work with over 350 farmers, offering them training, modern farming techniques, and guaranteed markets for their crops,” Mehta said.
“Our goal is to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported tomato paste and create jobs across the value chain.”
Mehta revealed that the company has invested over $20 million, with women accounting for 60% of its farmers. She called for stronger government partnerships to address industry challenges such as input costs, pest infestation, and market access.
Nigeria currently operates 33 grain silos nationwide with a total storage capacity of about 1.136 million metric tonnes.
