The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) on Thursday stated that the Federal Government’s agricultural interventions would address the rising prices of food in the country.
Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture, made this known during an on-the-spot assessment of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket Programme in Kwadom community, Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Kyari emphasised that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was committed to revitalising the agricultural sector to boost food production, create jobs, and address the escalating food prices in the country.
Represented by Mr Adewoye Adeyemi, his Senior Special Adviser on Food Security, Kyari explained that the government was supporting farmers by subsidising inputs to help ease the impact of the high costs of farming materials.
He also highlighted that initiatives aimed at boosting productivity through innovative technologies and mechanised farming were underway.
“We are doing a lot to change the narrative in the agriculture sector because Mr President is concerned about food security.
“We are providing massive support to farmers for both wet and dry season farming to ensure year-round agricultural activities that will increase productivity,” Kyari stated.
The Minister pointed out that the support for farmers would help reduce the financial burden of expensive farming inputs, which often limited farmers’ ability to cultivate large areas of land.
Kyari further revealed that the Federal Government had started receiving some of the 2,000 tractors that would be used for mechanised farming.
“These tractors would soon be deployed for large-scale cultivation to enhance productivity.
“The government is also introducing measures to encourage young people to take up farming by providing equipment, as well as integrating ICT, drones, and other technologies to make farming more accessible and efficient.”
He also discussed the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered generators for irrigation farming, which would replace the more expensive diesel-powered generators.
“With CNG, you can obtain a generator that is cheaper than diesel, which is a work in progress to reduce the cost of farming and ultimately lower food prices.
“As CNG-powered vehicles are increasingly used for transporting goods, food prices will also drop, as transportation costs have a significant impact on food prices,” Kyari explained.
Kyari urged farmers to make good use of the inputs provided by the government and to take full advantage of extension services offered by agricultural officials across the country.
Mr Lawan Garba, Chairman of the Wheat Farmers Association in Gombe State, commended President Tinubu for supporting nearly 8,000 farmers with seeds, fertilisers, and agrochemicals to cultivate wheat during the dry season.
Garba stated that the initiative would create wealth for farmers, reduce unemployment, and ensure food security for the state and the country.
He called on the Federal Government to increase support to cover more farmers, especially in light of the ongoing scarcity of wheat seeds being experienced by farmers in the state.
