FG to support 250,000 wheat farmers in dry season farming program
The Federal Government is to support between 150,000 to 250,000 farmers with 50 per cent input subsidy to cultivate between 200,000 to 250,000 hectares of wheat in the 2023-2024 Wheat Irrigation Farming Program.
The program is expected to yield 1,250,000 tonnes of wheat.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the program is aimed at reducing food inflation as well as Nigeria’s dependence on foreign imports, while increasing domestic consumption.
Speaking in Hadejia Jigawa State, on Saturday, during the flag off of the 2023-2024 Dry Season Wheat Development Project under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme, the minister promised that government will ensure that the support gets to genuine farmers.
He said, “By force of its very essence, dry season farming offers us a unique opportunity to harness the untapped potential of our land and diversify Nigeria’s food production capabilities. Indeed, its importance cannot be overstated, as it allows us to overcome seasonal limitations and meet the demands of our growing population while also bolstering our economy.”
The minister reiterated that dry season farming is an integral part of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and AgroPocket (NAGS-AP) Project, made possible by a $134m loan facility advanced to Nigeria by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
He noted that the program encapsulates the Tinubu administration’s resolve to expand the capacity of farmers to engage in the cultivation of key staples like rice, maize, cassava and wheat, across the country.
According to him, the aim is to increase crop yield by at least 20 per cent compared to the previous year. The staples will be joined by others like soybeans and sorghum in the wet season.
The minister added, “Our farmers remain our most prized assets as a nation, given that they produce the bulk of the food consumed in-country. As such Mr. President has charged us to ensure that they are adequately supported to increase their productivity.
“Accordingly, the program will be technology enabled, thus guaranteeing transparency and accountability in the provision of the subsidy and other support services like extension, insurance and additional finance. Equally, our farmers are guaranteed access to improved seeds – in this particular instance, I would like to point out that we are deploying heat tolerant wheat varieties like Borlaug 100; Attila.
“Furthermore, we will progressively invest in irrigation infrastructure projects to optimize water usage and mitigate the challenges posed by the dry season.Undoubtedly, we do not expect a bed of roses and know that our path will be riddled with challenges.”
