The Federal Government has revealed several initiatives and priorities that would boost farming, farmers and herders in Nigeria.
Sen. Abubakar Kyari,CON, the Hon. Minister for Agriculture and Food Security made these measures known while addressing the 46th meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security, held in Calabar, Cross River State.
According to him, these initiatives include the delivery of agricultural inputs to farmers, the repositioning of agricultural institutions, and deepening engagement among farmers, herders, and communities.
The minister went ahead stating that “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.
“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,” he said
In a statement by Mrs Eremah Anthonia, Chief Information Officer issued on behalf of the Director Information, the minister highlighted that the meeting serves as a platform for appraising existing policies, programmes, and projects at the national and sub-national levels to foster synergy, best practices, entrepreneurship, livelihood, as well as growth in the sector.
He then asked participants to uphold the principles of inclusiveness, transparency, prioritisation, and partnership for collective agribusiness going on in the country.
The Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, represented by his Deputy, Peter Odey, in his remark said that the state government would continue to support smallholder farmers with agricultural inputs and financial grants in order to ensure increase in food production.
He went ahead to promise that the state government would continue to partner with the federal government to implement agricultural policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in the sector tailored towards achieving food and nutritional security.
The Council Meeting is an annual event which was attended by State Commissioners of Agriculture, Permanent Secretaries, Development Partners, investors, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, amongst others.
Farmers and other stakeholders who are outstanding were also awarded in various ways.
