The Federal Government has launched a series of humanitarian interventions and emergency measures to mitigate the ongoing food crisis in the country, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has announced.
Kyari made this known on Monday in Akure during the flag-off of farm input distribution to farmers, an initiative aimed at strengthening agricultural productivity and ensuring national food sufficiency.
Represented by the Director of Extension Services, Mr. Ayodele Olawumi, the minister said the government had introduced various programmes to address challenges affecting food production and security.
He explained that the Tinubu-led administration had embarked on wide-ranging economic reforms to stimulate productivity, create employment, and lower the cost of living. According to him, the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government has declared food security a national priority, culminating in the declaration of a state of emergency on food security in July 2023,” Kyari said.
Reaffirming the President’s commitment to transforming the agricultural sector, Kyari noted that food security remains a key pillar of the administration’s priorities.
He further disclosed that the ministry had reviewed ongoing agricultural programmes to identify necessary reforms and ensure alignment with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s core objectives.
“As part of our short-term intervention measures, we have designed support mechanisms to make essential farm inputs more affordable and accessible to farmers under a transparent and accountable system,” he added.
Kyari stated that the interventions are geared towards boosting national food output and stabilizing food prices in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In his remarks, the Oyo State Coordinator of the ministry, Mr. Sunday Ojo, said the initiative was focused on empowering smallholder farmers to enhance productivity and resilience across rural communities.
Describing agriculture as the backbone of the state’s economy, Ojo noted that smallholder farmers form the majority of the farming population.
He added that the supply of quality seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals, and farm tools would help increase yields, improve livelihoods, and strengthen the nation’s food system.
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), the Small Scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria (SWOFON), and other stakeholders praised the Federal Government for the intervention.
Items distributed included Pesti Zyme, knapsack sprayers, water pumps, high-pressure sprayers, power tillers, dehydrators, and Ultimax Plus.
