The Federal Government has secured a $134 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to enhance seed and grain production nationwide.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this during the launch of the 2024/2025 National Dry Season Farming program in Calabar, Cross River State.
According to a statement released by the Ministry’s Chief Information Officer, Erema Anthonia, Kyari emphasized that the loan facility is vital for reintroducing dry season farming, which aims to boost agricultural productivity throughout the year and strengthen food security.
This initiative forms part of the National Agricultural Growth Support Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) Project, designed to rejuvenate Nigeria’s agricultural sector and improve access to nutritious food for all citizens.
The minister highlighted the government’s efforts to ensure food security by ramping up the production of key staples, including wheat, rice, maize, sorghum, soybean, and cassava.
In the first phase of the 2023/2024 dry season, 107,429 wheat farmers received support, followed by 43,997 rice farmers in the second phase.
Kyari reported that during the 2024 wet season, 192,095 farmers growing rice, maize, sorghum, millet, soybean, and cassava across all 37 states, including the FCT, received assistance. He also highlighted Cross River State’s leadership in wheat production among 16 states, with over 3,000 local farmers set to benefit from new support initiatives.
Kyari praised Cross River for its strong commitment to agricultural development, which earned it a spot as a key participant in the upcoming dry season farming program.
Looking ahead, the project aims to support 250,000 wheat farmers across wheat-producing states, providing them with subsidized inputs to cultivate approximately 250,000 hectares. This is expected to yield around 750,000 metric tons of wheat, bolstering the nation’s food reserves and reducing reliance on imports.
Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, represented by Deputy Governor Peter Odey, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the initiative. He emphasized the government’s focus on strategic agricultural policies aimed at increasing food production and ensuring its availability to citizens.
CREDIT: Allneeds, THE NATION
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