The Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari has revealed that the NAGS-AP aside supporting farmers with critical farm inputs for the production of the priority crops, will also provide institutional support for better performances and sustainability particularly in the areas of wheat seeds local production.
Speaking during his opening remark at the stakeholders preparatory meeting in Nasarawa, the Minister noted that during the implementation of the wheat production programme, “there were observed lapses in the implementation process hence the need for a collective, comprehensive evaluation of the efforts put in place and proffer qualitative remedial measures to forestall their reoccurrence.
“To this end, this retreat holds paramount significance as it goes to show that our commitment to fostering agricultural growth remains unwavering.”
However, there are indications of some levels of success have been recorded so far in the implementation of the 2023/2024 Dry Season Wheat Production.
“My colleague and I, the Honorable Minister of State, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi CON, have directed that all necessary machinery and strategies be put in place to address all the observed lapses and infractions from all parties.
“I want to be very clear that we did not sign up to do ‘business as usual’. Indeed, if anything, we are doing business ‘unusual’. As such, we have put in place a variegated system of oversight which, at every level, will identify malfeasance and expose it, accordingly. Overall, we aim to chart a course forward that ensures robust and sustainable production of staple food commodities across the board.
“Therefore, beyond the evaluation of the wheat production phase, our collective gaze will be on the future as we lay the groundwork for the second phase of the NAGS-AP dry season farming support provision.
He further urged input distributors or agro-dealers to sell only certified and approved products sourced from the registered input producers and the farmers in turn to use and apply the entire inputs given to you in line with the best agronomic practices for maximum productivity.
