Nigeria has secured a $134 million loan facility from the African Development Bank, AfDB, to support national dry season farming and strengthen food security efforts.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this during the launch of the 2024/2025 National Dry Season Farming programme in Calabar, Cross River State.
According to Kyari, the loan from AfDB will be deployed under the National Agricultural Growth Support Scheme–Agro Pocket project.
The programme is aimed at increasing year-round agricultural production by supporting farmers with subsidised inputs and promoting cultivation of staple food crops such as rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, soybean, and cassava.
He said the government had declared an emergency on food production to ensure Nigerians have access to affordable and nutritious food.
The minister noted that under the current dry season programme, 250,000 wheat farmers across wheat-producing states will be supported.
The target is to cultivate 250,000 hectares of land and produce an estimated 750,000 metric tonnes of wheat. In addition, 150,000 rice farmers will also receive support, with the expectation of harvesting 450,000 metric tonnes of rice across all 37 states, including the FCT.
Kyari also highlighted past achievements, such as the support of 107,429 wheat farmers and 43,997 rice farmers during the 2023/2024 dry season. In the 2024 wet season, 192,095 farmers growing rice, maize, sorghum, millet, soybean, and cassava were assisted across the country.
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He stated that Cross River is currently leading 16 other states in wheat production, with more than 3,000 farmers already enrolled. The federal government is partnering with the state to kick-start wheat farming under the new season.
To further strengthen agriculture, the Economic Council has approved the Greener Hope Agric mechanisation consortium, a 10-year programme worth $1 billion.
The initiative is expected to set up 1,000 agro service centres nationwide and provide 2,000 tractors annually for the next five years. This is projected to create jobs for about 600,000 youths.
In response to rising food prices, the government has begun the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to Nigerians at a subsidised price of ₦40,000 per 50kg bag.
Kyari explained that this injection of rice into the market will help stabilise prices and reduce the cost of other food alternatives.
He also revealed that ₦1.6 billion was disbursed to ginger farmers in Kaduna and Plateau states affected by a recent blight outbreak. A ginger master plan has been developed to boost self-sufficiency and expand exports.
In compliance with a presidential directive, the Ministry released 42,000 metric tonnes of food commodities from the national reserve to the National Emergency Management Agency for distribution across states, including 20 trailers of rice per state.
The minister added that crops are being fortified with vitamin A micronutrients to improve their nutritional value. In addition, aerial pest control operations have been conducted to tackle trans-boundary pest challenges that threaten farm output.
Kyari reiterated that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the government remains committed to achieving food security, enhancing infrastructure, and improving governance for efficient service delivery in the agriculture sector.
NAN
