Agric added N309bn to Nigeria economic in 12 months

Omeiza Bilal

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has revealed that the sector added N309 billion to the Nigeria economy in the 12 months of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

This is just as he said that 118,657 hectares of wheat have been cultivated in 15 states as part of the government’s dry season farming programme and also facilitated the vaccination of 14,926,469 animals and carried out artificial insemination of 2095 animals across the nation.

The Minister stated this during the ongoing one year of the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Sectoral Update on Agriculture and Food Security, held at the National Press Centre, Abuja on Monday.

According to him, the government in the last one year, has supported 107,429 wheat farmers with inputs resulting in output of 474,628 metric tonnes. And that in response to Presidential directive, released to NEMA for distribution 42,000mt of assorted food commodities from the Nigeria Strategic Food Reserve.

He said the government also procured and distributed to all states and FCT 58,500 metric tonnes of milled rice, to dampen escalating prices, fortified crops with Vitamin A micro-nutrient to enrich nutrition content and health value of food commodities.

Listing some of the achievement, Kyari said, the government has procured and distributed 14,056,467 doses of anthrax spore, foot and mouth diseases vaccines for risk-based vaccination exercise in 22 high-risk states located in the NC, NW, NE, SW and SS zones of the country.

“Establishment of animal health centres and veterinary hospitals, 6 micro earth dams and 8 boreholes, 164 milk collection centres, 8 cottage feed mills and 7 livestock centres.

“Capacity building of livestock farmers on biosecurity and anti-microbial resistance to safeguard animal production.

“Facilitation of fodder and pasture programme with distribution of 130 Residue crushers and development of 1,848.5 hectares of pasture pastures across states for livestock consumption.

“In pilot phase, handed over to 15 state governments 760 tonnes of poultry feed and 70 tonnes of ruminant feed for distribution to smallholder farmers.

“Implementation of National Livestock Development Plan on the promotion of grazing reserves and ranching nationwide,” he said.

On production enablers Kyari also revealed that in response to persistent food inflation, the following measures were undertaken to boost production:

“Distributed 60,432mt of improved seeds, 887,255mt seedlings, 138nos. value kits, 501,726 litres of agrochemicals, 62,328.5 metric tonnes of inorganic fertilizers, 1,000kg fungicide, and 33,200nos equipment to farmers across different value chains to enhance production.

“Received 2.15 million bags of fertilizer from the Central Bank of Nigeria for distribution to farmers free of charge.

“Improvement of farmland security with provision of additional resources to Agro Rangers and other security agencies.

“Put in place initiative for tackling ginger blight attack by disbursing N1.6 billion to support affected ginger farmers in Kaduna and Plateau states.

“National Agriculture Development Fund (NADF) provided improved maize and sorghum seedlings as well as farm inputs to farmers in conjunction with Kaduna State Government. A total of 18,000 bags of fertilizer and 61,250 assorted pesticides, fungicides were distributed.

“Development of Ginger Master Plan to facilitate self-sufficiency and promote export for foreign exchange earnings.

“MOU with John Deere and Tata Africa to assemble in-country and supply 10,000 tractors with implements and accessories at 2,000 units yearly, as well as 100 units of combine harvesters to support production.

“Partnership with Brazilian government with the sum 995,000 Euros to provide mechanisation hubs across the federation.

“Facilitation of supply of 2,000 Belarus tractors, greener Hope Mechanisation Services also on course.

“Promoted e-extension services through farmers help line and one-stop extension services delivery centres nationwide.

“Trained 3,350 extension agents in state agricultural development projects across the country.

“Trained and empowered 20,755 farmers, including youth and women, on agri-business and poverty reduction across the country.

“Established demonstration plots for technology diffusion on good agricultural practice. Constructed 77.8km of asphalt roads. Constructed 130.9 km of earthen roads. Provided 102 motorized and solar-powered boreholes. Installed 6,504 solar street lights,” he said.