The Federal Government, through its National Agro-Growth Scheme – AgroPocket, has revealed that it aims to impact over 200,000 farmers in wheat farming for the 2023/2024 dry season farming.
As revealed by the National Coordinator of NAGS-AP, Mr. I. A. Buba, the scheme intends to target 100,000 hectares of land to be cultivated by 150,000 to 200,000 farmers for the 2023/2024 dry season farming.
Mr. Buba said that the government is also going to support these farmers with farming inputs such as free seeds, while fertilizers, agricultural pumps, and pesticides will be subsidized by 50 percent.
AgroNigeria gathered that the project would require about 10,000 metric tons of certified seeds for cultivating the 100,000 hectares during the upcoming dry season. Approximately 6,750 metric tons will be imported from the Republic of Mexico, while 3,500 metric tons will be sourced from local seed companies that possess the required seeds.
It was also gathered that the Project Workplan activities, including the cost of the 6,750 metric tons of wheat certified seeds to be imported from Mexico, would amount to $7,425,000.00 and N55,986,301,539.95.
The government is currently assessing locally available certified wheat seeds in the country for immediate procurement to meet the 3,500 metric tons target set for cultivation under the 2023/2024 dry season program.
It was also revealed that the government is going to involve the use of digital technology to maintain accurate data and improve the program’s efficiency.