Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Press Release
Published on 2024-02-23 21:28:47
The Tinubu administration, under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, is taking significant steps towards releasing 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities to support vulnerable populations across Nigeria. These grains are currently being bagged in seven strategic reserve locations and will be delivered to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The delay in the process was due to the government ordering new bags for packaging the grains, which are provided to the citizens free of charge.
In addition to the 42,000 metric tonnes of food commodities, the federal government will also purchase 60,000 metric tonnes of milled rice from Mega Rice Millers to further stabilize food availability in the country. The announcement of these impending releases has already resulted in a reduction in commodity prices in major grain markets, according to Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari.
To enhance food production, the government is actively promoting Dry Season Farming through the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) Project. The first phase, focusing on wheat cultivation across 15 states, is already underway and will involve 107,429 farmers across 118,657 hectares. The successful growth of wheat in Jigawa State has led to an increase in harvest expectations, with plans for a second phase to cover rice, maize, and cassava across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Under the NAGS-AP Project, the federal government offers a 50% subsidy, and for the upcoming Phase 2, additional support will increase the aggregate subsidy to around 93% for farmers. Many governors are also providing strong support to enhance the subsidy further. Furthermore, solar-powered water pumps for irrigation, provided by the government, will be deployed to aid the next phase of the program.
The goal for rice cultivation in Phase 2 is 250,000 hectares involving 500,000 farmers, with an expected output of 1 million metric tons of paddy rice. For maize, 55,000 hectares will be cultivated by 110,000 farmers, adding 165,000 metric tons to the national maize production. Lastly, cassava cultivation will cover 35,000 hectares with 70,000 farmers expected to produce 525,000 metric tons of cassava.
Overall, these initiatives aim to boost food security, stabilize commodity prices, and support farmers across the country. The government’s commitment to enhancing agricultural production and providing subsidies demonstrates a strong effort to ensure food sustainability and economic growth in Nigeria.
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