The Nigerian government says it is set to tackle the menace of hoarding food items by penalising hoarders in the country as their activities disrupt the prices of food items in the market.
Hoarders mop up food items such as grains from markets across the country to create artificial scarcity and then bring what has been hoarded with a hike in prices.
The Nasarawa State governor, Mr. Abdullahi Sule stated this in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital when he paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari.
Governor Sule disclosed that the government is looking at the strategic grain reserve to see what can be done to reduce the pressure of the high cost of food in the country as a lot of people hoard food items hoping to gain more profits later.
”With the renewed hope agenda as well as a request from the Minister of Agriculture, we will double it, if for instance we have been providing 13,000 bags of fertiliser to the farmers we will increase it to 26,000 bags of fertiliser.
”Because of the high cost of living, farmers are having more challenges, and the government is in the position to provide support so we will continue to support smallholder farmers to improve production and reduce pressure on the foreign exchange.
”To reduce the pressure of high prices, we are looking at our strategic grain reserves to see what can be done. More so there are a lot of people hoarding food items hoping their prices will go up.
”The NSA during the meeting with Governors have indicated that the President is interested to ensure that people are not hoarding food items and where such issues are found they will be penalised”, Sule noted.
The Governor noted that Nasarawa State has been supporting farmers in the dry season farming for the past four and a half years, assuring that the government will continue to support smallholder farmers to improve production and reduce pressure on the foreign exchange.
Earlier, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Sen Abubakar Kyari said he is optimistic that Nasarawa State will have little difficulty in fitting into the readiness criteria for participation in the dry season farming.
He noted that the state is notable for grains, legumes, and root crop cultivation, and some of the country’s bigger rice millers are located in the state.
The minister further urged the state to prepare to lend additional support to farmers during this period.
”It is interesting that last year, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI laid the foundation for a solar cell production plant in Gora, Nasarawa State. It is our expectation that in due course the plant, when operational, will be the feeder for solar-powered pump needs in the immediate environment and beyond.
“Considering your background in engineering, we would equally be delighted if you emerge as a formidable champion of mechanisation in our agricultural production
Dominica Nwabufo
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