Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, yesterday disclosed that the various interventions by the ministry in the agricultural sector had injected N309 billion into the economy within one year.
He added that the interventions had generated about 60,000 jobs in various rural economies.
Speaking at the Ministerial Sectoral Update press briefing organised by the
He said the government had supported 107,429 wheat farmers with inputs resulting in an output of 474,628 metric tonnes.
Kyari stated that in response to the presidential directive, the ministry released 42,000metric tons of assorted food commodities from the FGN Strategic Food Reserve to NEMA for distribution to vulnerable Nigerians.
He said the ministry also procured and distributed 58,500 metric tonnes of milled rice to all states and the FCT to dampen escalating prices.
To further boost food security, Kyari said the ministry had also engaged in the fortification of crops with Vitamin A micro-nutrients to enrich the nutrition content and health value of food commodities.
To also boost food self-sufficiency, the minister disclosed that President
He said the approval is in line with the government's determination to ensure food security through mechanisation.
The minister explained that the president's intervention came as a result of the inability of
Kyari said 500 tractors are already on their way into the country, adding that the government remained committed to ensuring that farmers increase their production.
On the popular famous Achor Borrowers Programmes (ABP) which was launched by the
However, he said given the achievements recorded in the first year of Tinubu, the tasks ahead would be to consolidate and scale up the feats, develop the agro-industrial and agro-tourism sector, and reposition as well as recapitalise the
The minister also said strengthening of agricultural institutions and agencies including NADF, universities, research institutions and colleges of agriculture would be crucial going forward.
He said the government would also improve agricultural production and and food security and boost export potential.
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