Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has said that that prices of food item will drop to affordable level in 2024. Kyari said this in his welcome address during a courtesy visit by the Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. Kyari said that President Bola Tinubu’s agenda on food security is on course and in 2024 programmes on food production will be sustained to impact positively on Nigerians. He said further said “the Ministry is focused on ramping up massive production of staple crops using technology and mechanization to achieve this goal. We are grateful for the support and guidance of Mr. President as we work towards a more food-secure Nigeria. “We are poised to implement our programs in line with his vision for the agricultural sector. We are determined to driving agricultural transformation, enhancing productivity, and ensuring that our farmers have the necessary support to thrive. Our goal also includes ensuring food security and driving down food inflation.
“We also intend to massively produce to bring down food inflation because today the number one driver of inflation is food price inflation so we want to assiduously work hard just that Mr President has given us all the support that we need and also starting with rice instance, and Nigerians will have a respite.” He also said the Ministry will embark on its planned programmes and projects, and ensure their sustainability towards massive production production. In 2024, there is plan for sustainability of our programmes to ensure massive production of food so that food will be available and Nigeria will be food secure in line with Mr President’s agenda on food security”, he said. Meanwhile, he urged stakeholders in the agricultural sector to give support to the Ministry in order to overcome challenges and ensure a successful intervention despite time constraints, which he made it known that, “The second phase of the Dry/Wet Season Farming intervention is expected to commence this month, and we are determined to make it a success.” He also said the Ministry has given full support for wheat production in Jigawa and other States while speaking during the visit of Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi to his office, “Your visit signifies the strong partnership and collaboration between the State and the Federal Government in our collective efforts to ensure food security and agricultural development in Nigeria.
“Six weeks ago, precisely on the 25th of November, 2023, Your Excellency, members of your Cabinet, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Hadejia, and other dignitaries warmly received us at the official flag-off of the 2023/2024 Dry Season Farming at the Kadume farm cluster in Hadeija Local Government Area of Jigawa State. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to His Excellency for the remarkable successes achieved in the preparation of farmlands and distribution of agricultural inputs in Jigawa State in the ongoing wheat Dry Season Farming under the NAGS-AP Programme. We are also aware that you have personally moved round to supervise the exercise in the State. This is further reaffirmation of your credentials as a farmers’ Governor and enthusiastic promoter of food security.” However, the Minister commended the Governor on his commitment to the efficient and transparent distribution of inputs as it served as a model for other States to emulate.
In responding the Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, wheat has been cultivated on 36,000, 700, 87 hectares, which gives a bright hope for self-sufficiency in wheat production. “As at today we have done 36,000, 700, 87 hectares of wheat farming which is the official records, we still have this is an addition to 5,000 hectares, on the aggregate we have almost 50,000 hectares of wheat farm in Jigawa State. I must appreciate your (Kyari) commitment to this project and I want to assure you that Jigawa State will continue to key into this project. We have the land and resources to promote wheat farming. We have put in place robust programmes that will assist us in dry season farming in the State. As of today we are updating our farmers register, so that by the time we start our rice season farming and that will properly guide us. We are going to cooperate with you to ensure that we achieve success in this dry season farming”, Namadi said.
