FG supports 250,000 wheat farmers with dry season farming program
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The federal government will support 150,000 to 250,000 farmers with 50 percent input subsidies to grow 200,000 to 250,000 hectares of wheat under the 2023-2024 Wheat Irrigation Agriculture Program.
The program is expected to produce 1,250,000 tonnes of wheat.
Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, said the program aims to reduce food inflation and Nigeria’s dependence on foreign imports, while increasing domestic consumption.
Speaking on Saturday in Hadejia Jigawa State during the inauguration of the 2023-2024 Dry Season Wheat Development Project under the National Agricultural Growth Plan, the minister pledged that the government would ensure support reaches genuine farmers. did.
He said, “Dry season agriculture by its very nature offers us a unique opportunity to harness the untapped potential of the land and diversify Nigeria’s food production capacity. , its importance cannot be overstated as it allows us to strengthen our economy while meeting the demands of a growing population.”
The minister said dry season agriculture is an integral part of the National Agricultural Growth Plan and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) project, made possible by the $134 million loan facility extended to Nigeria by the African Development Bank (AfDB). he said repeatedly.
He noted that the program encapsulates the Tinubu administration’s determination to expand the capacity of farmers to cultivate key staple crops such as rice, maize, cassava and wheat across the country.
He said the goal is to increase crop yields by at least 20 percent compared to the previous year. During the rainy season, staple foods such as soybeans and sorghum are added to the staple diet.
The Minister continued, “Our farmers remain our nation’s most valuable asset, given that they produce the majority of the food consumed domestically. They have asked us to ensure they have the right support to grow.
“The program will therefore be technology-enabled and will ensure transparency and accountability in the provision of subsidies and other support services such as extensions, insurance and additional financing. Similarly, our farmers will be improved and We would like to point out that in this particular example we are introducing high temperature tolerant wheat varieties like Borlaug 100 and Attila.
“Additionally, we will be investing in irrigation infrastructure projects in stages to optimize water use and alleviate the challenges posed by dry seasons. Make no mistake, we are not expecting a rosy bloom. We know that our path is full of challenges.”
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Source: dailypost.ng