The Federal Government and Kebbi state have taken steps to boost food production and reduce food inflation to ensure food security in the country.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, and, Gov. Mohammed Idris of Kebbi stated this during a courtesy visit by Idris on Friday in Abuja.
He said that it was assuring that the Kebbi government took necessary critical steps to enable the cultivation of wheat under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) project.
Kyari said that Kebbi is one of the states chosen for the Dry Sdry-season farmingacross irrigable farmlands.
“In spite of some of the initial glitches, it is reassuring that your government took necessary critical steps, such as land preparation, and facilitation of tubular irrigation, to enable the cultivation of wheat under the NAGS-AP) project.
”We are also aware that your government has supported farmers with additional fertilizers and other inputs and provided funds for commodity associations towards boosting agricultural productivity in the state.
”There is no doubt that the collective steps we are taking to boost food production, reduce food inflation, and more assuredly guarantee our national food security, are matters of urgent engagement that require increased inter-governmental interactions.”
He said that in November 2023, the ministry commenced the Wheat Dry Season Farming across 15 states that are in the wheat-producing belt of the country.
”As a reminder, the flag-off was intended to ensure that we rely less on rain-fed agricultural production during the Wet Season, and instead have all-year-round farming.
”In addition to boosting the volumes of crops cultivated, taking advantage of both Dry and Wet Season Farming will increase job opportunities.
”It will reduce poverty, de-escalate food inflation, and enhance inclusivity, which are goals highlighted in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
Kyari assured that with adequate readiness, Kebbi should benefit from the second phase of the Dry/Wet Season farming that is due to commence in a couple of weeks.
Earlier, Idris said that Kebbi is an agrarian state blessed with fertile land where Millet, Wheat, Rice, and Guinea Corn are cultivated
He said that based on the importance the state government attached to farming, it purchased fertilizers worth N2.8 billion to distribute to Kebbi farmers free of charge.
The governor said that this was a clear testimony that Kebbi farmers are ready to farm.
”For the priority of food security, my administration has purchased 320 trucks of assorted grains and we distributed them to our people free of charge.
“We are doing these things because we want to encourage them to go back to the farm.
”My first priority is agriculture, the second is education, the third one is security so that farmers will go back to their farms and also secure the State,” he said.
Idris disclosed that the state has purchased 6,000 solar pumps because of the issue of the pump-price increase of Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS to be distributed to farmers.
He said that the cluster model would be used so farmers could get the pumps and go back to their farms.
”We want to partner with the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
”We will make sure we provide the enabling environment for our farmers because we are out to provide food for the State and Nigeria,” he said.
