FG to address food price challenges – Agric minister
The federal government has expressed concern over rising food prices assuring Nigerians that it is working to tackle the challenge.
This is even as it said it is seeking ways to address the country’s numerous porous borders.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security gave the assurance on Thursday while hosting the Executive Governor of Ekiti State Mr Abiodun Oyebanji, who came to him on a courtesy visit.
Kyari also assured that the Government in collaboration with States would exceed the cultivation of 500,000 hectares of land this year to bring down the rising food inflation in the country.
He expressed optimism that massive cultivation of food across the country would bring down the prices of food items and contribute in stabilising the economy.
He said the federal government is concerned about the skyrocketing prices of food items as well as the porous nature of Nigeria’s borders, adding that the federal government was poised in exceeding the cultivation of 500,000 hectares of land to bring down food inflation.
He said, “The Ministry is focused on ramping up massive production of staple crops using technology and mechanisation to achieve this goal. We are grateful for the support and guidance of Mr. President as we work towards a more food-secure Nigeria.
The minister, however, underscored the need to tackle some of the challenges observed during the on-going Wheat Dry Season Farming in the 15 participating States, to forestall their recurrence in the second phase for rice, maize and cassava cultivation, slated to commence this month.
“We are dedicated to implementing stringent measures in the forthcoming Dry/Wet Season Farming for Rice, Maize, and Cassava, to ensure transparent distribution and target genuine farmers.
In his remarks, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, said he was in the ministry to explore areas of collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Oyebanji said the State has begun the update of farmers database, adding that more often than not, real farmers do not get subsidised farm inputs.
He further revealed that the administration had embarked on changing the orientation of farmers for them to see farming as a business.
The Governor noted that Nigeria is yet to fully tap into the possibilities of agriculture, adding that all hands must be on deck to ensure food security in the country.
“We have also broken the chain of tenure system on land. The land tenure system, and we also want support on livestock, although we have tried it, and we will like the livestock department to come and see what we are doing.
