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Says intervention responsible for drop in food prices
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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Federal Government has released a N250 billion financing window for smallholder farmers to boost food production.
The government said the fund was in addition to the N1.5 trillion recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari stated this at the opening of the 47th National Council on Agriculture and Food Security yesterday in Kaduna State.
He claimed that the decline in the prices of foodstuffs commodities across the country was a result of its interventions and sustained investment in agricultural production, processing, and post-harvest systems.
Kyari said the government’s ongoing reforms under President Bola Tinubu are driven by a commitment to achieve food sovereignty, ensuring that Nigeria produces what it consumes, while guaranteeing affordability and access for households.
He said: “As we continue along this path, we are already beginning to witness a decline in food prices across several commodities, a reflection of ongoing targeted market interventions. While we are not yet where we want to be, this positive trend confirms that we are moving in the right direction.”
He pointed out the National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP), implemented with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and state governments, has expanded access to quality agro-inputs for farmers.
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According to him, the scheme has contributed to increased wheat production in both irrigated and newly introduced rainfed farming zones in states including Plateau, Taraba and Cross River.
The minister disclosed that operations at the national strategic grain reserves in Zamfara, Katsina, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Niger, Osun, Edo, and Kwara States are scaled up to stabilise supplies and cushion temporary market shortages.
He said: “To strengthen national food security and stabilise prices, we are enhancing efficiency across national silo operations to ensure timely interventions.
“In partnership with Heifer Nigeria, a national agricultural mechanisation programme has been launched to support youth- and women-led mechanisation service centres in all six geopolitical zones.
“Mechanisation will become a national service that modernises production, raises yields, and creates sustainable rural employment.”
On his part, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, emphasised the adoption of climate-smart agriculture to achieve long-term productivity.
“We must adopt climate-smart practices that increase crop yields while building resilience and investment in drought-tolerant crop varieties, integrated pest management, and the Nigerian Farmers’ Soil Health Scheme, which tailors fertiliser use to specific soil conditions,” he said.
