Gilbert Ekugbe
The Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, has assured Nigerians that there would be substantial intervention for the agricultural sector that would enhance increased production of rice, maize, wheat and cassava to stem the rising food inflation in the country.
Edum stated this when he met with critical stakeholders to strategise on the implementation of the second phase of 2023/2024 dry season farming in Abuja.
He said that the importance of the agriculture sector could not be overemphasised under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“It will help to bring down the rate of inflation. Successful dry season farming will bring down the cost of food production and will bring down inflation,” he said.
Earlier, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Abubakar Kyari, stated that the objective of the forum was to review the implementation of the 2023/2024 dry season wheat production implemented in the 15 wheat producing states of the federation based on their respective comparative advantage and preparatory meeting to chart a new course for the implementation of the second phase for rice, maize and cassava.
Kyari stated that the project would support farmers with critical farm inputs for the production of the priority crops, and also provide institutional support for better performances and sustainability particularly in the areas of wheat seeds local production.
In his goodwill message, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Atiku Bagudu, said that “Nigeria agricultural space is one of the most elastic in the world, every cropping season can produce a miracle, if there is more investment in the sector.”
Bagudu added that the present administration under the President Tinubu is committed to the agriculture sector in terms of improved budgetary allocation and other intervention funds to achieve food and nutrition security.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State, Dr. Aliyu Abdullahi, pledged that all members of the agricultural ecosystem would work assiduously to drive the change in the agriculture sector in line with “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Tinubu.
In her welcome address, the Director, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Olwatoyin Alade, who was represented by the Director Planning and Policy Coordination, Ms. Tanimu Ibrahim revealed that the goal of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme (NAGS) is to increase total food production to crash the continued rise in the prices of agricultural commodities and make them affordable to the average Nigerians.
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