As part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s initiative to enhance food security and economic stability, the Federal Government has announced a comprehensive plan to ramp up agricultural production for the 2024/2025 farming cycle.
The plan includes sustained support for smallholder farmers through existing government initiatives during the ongoing wet season farming.
Recall that AgroNigeria had earlier reported the various presidential plans unveiled by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari which aim to address the country’s food challenges.
To further bolster food production, the government will strengthen and accelerate dry season farming across the country.
A key component of the initiative is the intensive agricultural mechanization and development aimed at reducing drudgery, lowering production costs, and boosting productivity.
The government is also ready to collaborate with Sub-National entities to identify irrigable lands and increase the area under cultivation.
Efforts would also be made in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to rehabilitate and maintain irrigation facilities under river basin authorities across the federation.
A strategic engagement program would be developed for youth and women across the country, promoting immediate greenhouse cultivation of horticultural crops such as tomatoes and peppers to increase production volume, stabilise prices, and address food shortages.
The initiative also included fast-tracking ongoing engagements with the Nigerian Military to rapidly cultivate arable lands under the Defence Farms Scheme.
Other paramilitary establishments would be encouraged to put secured available arable lands to cultivation, further contributing to the nation’s agricultural output.
These measures reflect the government’s commitment to leveraging technology and collaboration to improve food security and support the agricultural sector in Nigeria.
