President Bola Tinubu’s administration has secured a loan facility of $134 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to help farmers boost seeds and grain production in the country.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by Anthonia Eremah, Chief Information Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, on Thursday, in Abuja.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made this known at the launching of the 2024/2025 National Dry Season Farming in Calabar, Cross River State capital.
This initiative is part of the National Agricultural Growth Support Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), which seeks to make nutritious food more affordable and accessible for Nigerians, according to a statement from the ministry in Abuja.
“The government also intends to leverage agriculture as a driving force for economic revival by increasing the production of staple crops such as wheat, rice, maize, sorghum, soybean, and cassava across both dry and wet farming seasons,” the statement said.
Kyari noted that, under the first phase of the project in the 2023/2024 dry season, 107,429 wheat farmers received support, with 43,997 rice farmers assisted in the second phase.
Most recently, the 2024 wet season saw 192,095 farmers growing rice, maize, sorghum, soybean, and cassava receive aid across all 37 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
While recognizing Cross River State as a leader in wheat production, Kyari commended the state’s efforts and underscored its central role among the 16 wheat-producing states in the country.
He also acknowledged the state’s dedication to wheat cultivation, which led to its early inclusion in the 2024/2025 dry season farming initiative.
“For the 2024/2025 dry season, we aim to support 250,000 wheat farmers across wheat-producing states with subsidised agricultural inputs, targeting 250,000 hectares for an anticipated yield of 750,000 metric tons. This will bolster our food reserves and reduce reliance on wheat imports,” said Kyari.
In addition, Kyari announced plans to support 150,000 rice farmers in the initiative’s second phase, aiming to yield 450,000 metric tons nationwide.
Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, represented by his deputy, Peter Odey, expressed strong support for the project and highlighted the state’s focused agricultural policies to enhance food security.
“Our inclusion as a leading wheat farming state will motivate us to intensify our efforts in grain and seed production for food availability,” he said.
National Project Coordinator for NAGS-AP, Buba Ishaku, added that the project would unfold in two phases, with a focus on providing farmers with quality seeds and grains.