FG To Commence Aggressive Dry Season Farming In November
Following the declaration of a national state of emergency on food security by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has disclosed plans to commence aggressive promotion and preparation for dry season farming from November 2023.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who stated this Monday in Abuja during a press conference to reel the plans on the way forward for Nigerian agriculture to deliver on the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu, also assured that with the commencement of harvest season, food prices will be begin to drop.
Kyari stated that, as part of preparation of dry-season farming, the certification of available planting materials for some food crop is currently ongoing.
He said that as part of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) project funded by the African Development Bank, the target is to produce 70,000 hectares across the wheat production zone of the country with the expected yield of 875,000 metric tons for the food reserve.
In addition, the Minister said that arrangements were also at advanced stage for dry season farming of rice, maize and other horticultural crops.
He also disclosed plans to hold the National Agriculture and food Security summit in November with the aim of bringing all stakeholders together for the development of National Action Plan for food security with an implementation and sustainable strategy.
Senator Kyari further revealed that during the National Agriculture and Food Security Council (NCAFS) to the held also in November they will review the mechanisms and processes for delivering fertilizers and agro-pesticide inputs to farmers in a transparent and accountable regime.
On the short-term priority actions to be undertaken by the ministry between 2023-2024, he said they intend to analyze and map agricultural and food security stakeholders, strengthen reposition agricultural and food security institutions for the task ahead, adding that they also intend to establish two new national gene bank facilities for crop and animals so as to conserve the fast-eroding genetic resources for food security.
While disclosing plans to reform the National Agricultural Research System to serve as the engine of growth for innovation, Kyari revealed plans to prepare a joint action plan with the federal ministry of water resources to unlock the irrigation potentials of the river basins.
In the medium term action for the period of 2021-2026, he revealed plans to develop a digital and ICT mobile-based agro-industry systems and electronic-extension platforms to support farmers adding that a comprehensive soil fertility mapping and information system for food security will also be developed.
On the livestock sector, the Minister assured that meat, dairy eggs, fish and other protein from animal sources will receive special intervention. He further disclosed that using fin-tech solutions, they will create e-wallet for all financial disbursements to deliver directly to the target end users.
