In a concerted effort to implement the second phase of the 2023/2024 dry season farming and bolster food security, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) convened with key stakeholders.
This strategic initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a food security emergency, emphasising the importance of a resilient food production ecosystem to combat food inflation and enhance production.
The closing ceremony, held at Orozo, Abuja, featured the presence of distinguished guests, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Mr. Wale Edun and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, highlighted the forum’s objective, which involved reviewing the implementation of the 2023/2024 dry season wheat production in fifteen wheat-producing states and preparing for the second phase focusing on rice, maize and cassava.
Kyari emphasised the project’s dual purpose: supporting farmers with essential inputs for priority crop production and providing institutional support for improved performance, particularly in local wheat seed production. The minister acknowledged observed lapses in the initial implementation, necessitating a comprehensive evaluation to address challenges and prevent their recurrence.
He assured stakeholders that corrective measures would be implemented, urging strict adherence to rules and guiding principles by officers involved in the supply chain. Emphasising the importance of transparency and accountability, Kyari stated, “The ICT platform provider is to deploy the best and most reliable system that can capture and trace all the transactions under the agro-pocket”.
Addressing various stakeholders, including input producers, distributors, agro-dealers and farmers, Kyari emphasised the need for adherence to standards, quality and best agronomic practices. He acknowledged challenges related to farmers’ inability to cover input costs and revealed Tinubu’s directive to provide additional support to farmers facing financial constraints in subsequent interventions.
Edun highlighted the significance of the agriculture sector and its critical role in Tinubu’s leadership. He emphasised substantial intervention funds for the agricultural sector, aiming to boost rice, maize, wheat and cassava production, thereby lowering inflation rates.
In his goodwill message, Bagudu emphasised the elasticity of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, stating that each cropping season could yield positive results with increased investment. He commended the administration’s commitment to the agriculture sector through improved budget allocations and intervention funds, contributing to food and nutrition security.
The Minister of State Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Abdullahi pledged collective efforts from all members of the agricultural ecosystem to drive positive change in the sector, aligning with Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda for food and nutrition security.
In her welcome address, the director overseeing the office of the permanent secretary, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Alade highlighted the National Agricultural Growth Scheme’s goal to increase total food production and make agricultural commodities affordable to Nigerians. She emphasised the key objective of enhancing wheat, rice, maize, sorghum, cassava and soybean production through the provision of relevant farm inputs to small-scale farmers in both dry and wet seasons. The goal is to address the rise in agricultural commodity prices and contribute to national food security.