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The Federal Government has
said it is targeting 31 million metric tons of grains to combat food inflation,
create jobs and reduce poverty as well as respond to President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu’s emergency on food security.
The Minister of State for
Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, stated this in
Abuja at the opening session of the sixth edition of Seed Connect Conference
and Exhibition with the theme; ‘’ Global Declaration of Food Emergency - The
role of the seed industry and ensuring Africa’s Food and Nutrition Security’’.
Abdullahi stated that the
Ministry has outlined a series of critical pathways to solve the food security
challenges.
These pathways, he said, are
streamlined into short term, intermediate and long term actions.
He added that the farmers are being supported
with quality seeds for rice, maize and soybean and other inputs at a subsidised
rate. He further said that ‘’pasture seeds development, fodder and foliage
estates that will gradually eliminate farmers and herders clashes, creation of
gene banks facilities is also a short term intervention that the administration
is pursuing.
In terms of finance, he noted
that the take-off of the National Agricultural Development Fund to support
production, critical agricultural infrastructure and provide financial leverage
for farmers will also be focused on in the short term’’.
According to him, ‘’this will also be
supported by reforms in the Bank of Agriculture and Nigeria Agricultural
Insurance Corporation to meet the need of its clientele using digital
solutions’’.
He stated that the National Agricultural Seeds
Council (NASC) would be refocused to increase sensitization, surveillance and
enforcement of its laws toward curbing infiltration of uncertified seeds that
rob farmers of their value for money.
He added that the NASC will be empowered to
carry out its mandate through strategic reforms and budgeting attached to KPIs
which is in line with the goal of the administration.
In his welcome address, the Acting Director
General, NASC, Dr. Ishiak Khalid, said that ‘’this year’s event has been
dedicated to the Global declaration of Food Emergency and the role of Africa’s
Seed Sector in creating a sustainable food system to ensure access to
nutritious and affordable food both now, and in the future’’.
Dr. Khalid stated that NASC will also be
convening a National seed planning to bring stakeholders to plan for the 2024
planting season and how to achieve the national seed requirement.
In his remarks, the Netherland’s Ambassador to
Nigeria, Wouter Plomp, stated that ‘’ the Netherlands – Nigeria Seed
Partnership – a model of collaboration built on knowledge exchange and mutual,
has been instrumental in advancing Nigeria’s seed sector, fostering the
exchange of expertise, technology and best practices’’.
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