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FG receives $134 million in AfDB credit to increase seed and grain production across the country

Posted on by Josh L
FG receives 4 million in AfDB credit to increase seed and grain production across the country

The Federal Government has secured a $134 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to support farmers to increase seed and grain production across the country.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kiari, Congress state, said this while presenting the 2024/2025 national dry season in Calabar. He was joined by the Governor of Cross River State, Bessie Otu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Peter Odi.

The announcement was made in a statement issued on Thursday by Erema Antonia (Mrs), the Chief Information Officer of the Information Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

“The Federal Government has secured a $134 million line of credit from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to help farmers increase seed and grain production in the country,” the statement said.

The statement explained that the recovery of national agriculture during the dry season is aimed at increasing year-round agricultural production, and the $134 million loan will play a key role in ensuring national food security.

  • The Minister noted that this initiative belongs to the “Agriculture Development Support Scheme – Agro-Pocket” (NAGS-AP) project, which is designed to stimulate the sustainable development of agriculture.
  • Kyari also stressed that the federal government has declared a food production emergency to ensure Nigerians have easy access to quality, nutritious and affordable food.
  • He noted that the government also intends to use the agricultural sector to revive the national economy by increasing the production of staple crops such as wheat, rice, maize, sorghum, soybean and cassava during the dry and wet farming seasons.

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Kyari said that during the first phase of the 2023/2024 dry season initiative. 107,429 wheat farmers were supported while 43,997 rice farmers were benefited during the second phase.

In addition, 192,095 farmers growing rice, maize, sorghum/millet, soybean and cassava have been supported during the 2024 rainy season in all 37 states including the FCT.

  • The minister highlighted Cross River State’s leadership among the 16 states in wheat production, noting that over 3,000 wheat farmers in the state have been shortlisted to receive support to increase yields.
  • He commended the state government’s commitment to wheat farming, which underpinned the decision by the federal government in partnership with Cross River to launch the first wheat production project under the 2024/25 dry season farming programme.
  • In the 2024/2025 dry season, the initiative aims to support 250,000 wheat farmers with subsidized agricultural inputs to cultivate 250,000 hectares, producing approximately 750,000 metric tons of wheat.
  • The release is expected to strengthen the country’s food supply, reduce import dependence and increase domestic consumption.
  • Also, the second phase of the program targets 150,000 rice farmers in all 37 states including the FCT with an expected harvest of 450,000 metric tonnes.

The National Coordinator of the National Agricultural Development Support Scheme – Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) project, Mr. Buba Ishaku, emphasized that the project will be implemented in two phases, providing farmers with quality seeds and grains.

The launch event was attended by key stakeholders, including international development partners, State Commissioners for Agriculture and Permanent Secretaries of State, highlighting the joint efforts to achieve national food security.

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