Ahead of the dry and wet season farming in 2024/2025, the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) has outlined several initiatives and priorities aimed at enhancing food production in the nation.
The Minister of FMAFS, Senator Abubakar Kyari said in a statement signed by the Chief Information Officer of the ministry, Eremah Anthonia, said that the initiative would address the lapses of the just concluded farming season of 2024.
According to Kyari, the initiatives would include the delivery of agricultural inputs to farmers, the repositioning of agricultural institutions, and deepening engagement among farmers, herders, and communities. “As priority actions, ongoing tasks include the delivery of agro-inputs to farmers, the repositioning of agricultural institutions, and deepening engagement among farmers, herders, and communities” Kyari said.
The actions of the ministry will not be limited to those areas. Rather, the minister said, “Other initiatives include collaboration on water resource irrigation schemes, soil fertility and information systems, the establishment of laboratories in research institutes, and the repositioning of relevant universities, faculties, and colleges.” The minister did not inform his audience about the lapses that made the advertised involvement of the river basin development authorities in irrigation efforts to fall below expectation in the past year.
However, the Minister of State in the Ministry, Aliyu Abdullahi highlighted that the use of infrastructure, technology, and entrepreneurship as fundamental elements in exploring agricultural potential, sectoral linkages, and social inclusion for food security in the country would be employed in the 2024/2025 farming season. Again, those areas were harped on last year, as part of efforts of government to make all season farming seamless in Nigeria from 2023 farming season.
What Abdullahi said, while speaking in Calabar, Cross River State capital, was to give a pledge about the government support to farmers and its willingness to address the projected food crisis of 2025. This, he said, will include planned reduction of the high cost of food in the country.
