The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has underscored the commitment of the Ministry to eradicate round-tripping and enhance the accuracy of farmers’ data, aiming to bolster food security and production in Nigeria.
During a meeting with the Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, at the Ministry’s headquarters, Kyari emphasized the need to address persistent challenges that have hindered government policies and programs in the agricultural sector.
Kyari stated, “It is imperative for us to tackle some of the challenges observed and ensure that they do not impede our agricultural development agenda.” He specifically mentioned cases of round-tripping in collaboration with agro-dealers and issues related to poor validation of farmers’ data in certain participating states.
Expressing the Ministry’s unwavering commitment, he assured that stringent measures would be implemented to transparently distribute farm inputs during the upcoming dry/wet season farming for rice, maize, and cassava. Collaboration with state and local governments, traditional rulers, NGOs, and relevant MDAs is deemed crucial to achieving these objectives.
“As we seek the support of all stakeholders in the agricultural sector, we are dedicated to overcoming challenges and ensuring a successful intervention despite time constraints,” Kyari affirmed.
Highlighting the commencement of the second phase of dry/wet season farming, the Minister expressed determination to make it a substantial success. He acknowledged the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emphasizing the Ministry’s focus on leveraging technology and mechanization for massive staple crop production.
Kyari concluded, “We are grateful for the support and guidance of Mr. President as we work towards a more food-secure Nigeria.” The Minister’s commitment aligns with the broader goal of achieving food security through strategic interventions and collaboration across various sectors and stakeholders.
