Agric Minister

In line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of emergence on food security, the Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to implement stringent measures in the distribution of Agro-inputs to genuine farmers, to ensure transparency in the forthcoming Wet Season farming.

The Minister revealed this during a courtesy visit by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto to his office, in Abuja recently.

He pointed out that the aim was to drive agricultural transformation, enhance productivity and ensure farmers have the necessary support to thrive.

According to him, “Our goal also includes ensuring food security and driving down food inflation”, adding that the Governor’s visit was a substantiation of the strong partnership and collaboration the government was striving to build between the States and Federal Government in collective efforts to ensure food security and Agricultural development in Nigeria.

Sen. Kyari recalled that the Agricultural sector in Sokoto State had experienced remarkable achievements since the administration came to office, pointing out, the Governor’s efforts towards the provision of agricultural input support to farmers in the state, provision of free assorted seeds and agrochemicals to farmers for the 2023/2024 dry season farming and the recently constructed 450 hectares Kware Irrigation Scheme.

The Minister stated that it was imperative to take the lessons acquired during the review of the implementation of the Wheat Dry Season Farming in the 15 participating States including Sokoto State to ensure that the state adds quantifiable value to the agricultural development agenda.

He pointed out that Expressions of Interest for the Dry Season production of Rice, Maize and Cassava were sent to all 36 States and FCT captured a designed structure that speaks to farmers’ data integrity, inventory of available Irrigable lands as well as functional irrigation infrastructure with the primary aim of determining the readiness of participating states.

The Minister added that the Ministry is already getting responses from some States.

Speaking further, he stated that the Ministry had fully aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President and was poised to implement programs in line with the vision for the agricultural sector.

The Minister noted that the President was concerned about the capacity of farmers to access agro-inputs even at the current subsidized rate as observed during the last intervention for the Dry Season Wheat Production program, pointing out that to facilitate it, further support to farmers was underway.

In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto stated that Sokoto State is the largest Agrarian state that is into Dry and Wet Season farming of Millet, Maize and perishable items such as Onions, Tomatoes, Garlic etc. He pointed out that last month, his administration distributed 10 trucks of free fertilizers to farmers and was able to identify genuine farmers through the Village Heads, District Heads and also the Leadership of the farmers in the Local Government Areas of the State, adding that farmers were supported with all the inputs, implements and Pesticides, all to subsidize agricultural activities in the State.

The Governor highlighted his major concerns to include; banditry and insecurity affecting some parts of the State.

In his remarks, the Hon. Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abdullahi Sabi Aliyu, congratulated the Governor on his victory at the Supreme Court, affirming his election as the Governor of Sokoto State. He expressed optimism that, the issue of Portfolio /fake farmers will be dealt with having heard the same issue with other Governors who visited. The Minister, therefore stressed that “no more hiding place for fake farmers”.

In a similar vein, the Executive Governor of Niger State, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago during his visit to the Ministry recently, also expressed his commitment to partner with the Federal Government.

He noted that his administration had secured over a billion dollars in investment for Agricultural mechanization and technology within the first 6 months.

Bago revealed that Niger State’s vast arable land, water resources and dams have positioned itself as a pilot state for agricultural development in Nigeria while he reiterated his commitment to agricultural production, animal husbandry and aquaculture, noting that all these are potentials for creating employment, foreign exchange earnings and self-sufficiency in food security.