To ensure food sufficiency and address rising food prices, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security. This declaration coincided with renaming the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
As part of the effort to boost food production, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security initiated the cultivation of dry-season staple crops in Hadejia, Jigawa State. This project, part of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agropocket (NAGS-AP), is supported by a $134 million loan facility from the African Development Bank (AfDB). The loan will enhance farmers’ capacity to cultivate staples such as rice, maize, cassava, and wheat nationwide, along with high-value crops like soybeans and sorghum during the wet season.
The Jigawa project targets supporting 150,000 to 250,000 wheat farmers with a 50% input subsidy to cultivate between 200,000 and 250,000 hectares, aiming for a yield of 1,250,000 tonnes of wheat. This initiative seeks to increase crop yields by at least 20% compared to the previous year.
Other Measures Include:
- Increase in Supply of Subsidized Fertilizer: Ensuring fertilizers are available to farmers at reduced rates.
- Supply of Farm Inputs: Providing seedlings and farming implements.
- Investment in Agricultural Irrigation: Expanding irrigation infrastructure to enable year-round farming.
- Establishment of Skills Acquisition Centres by NASENI: Setting up centers to train farmers in essential agricultural skills.
- Strengthening MSME Development Fund and Bank of Industry: Boosting resources and funding for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Additionally, the government launched the National Potato Strategy 2023-2028 to enhance the competitiveness of potato farming. Collaboration between the Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security and Water Resources is fostering year-round farming practices to achieve sustainable agricultural development.
The Ministry has also signed Memoranda of Understanding with John Deere and Tata to produce 5,000 tractors annually over the next five years.
These initiatives demonstrate the administration’s dedication to improving food security and fostering sustainable agricultural growth in Nigeria.
