Boosting Agricultural Productivity Key to Affordable Food Supply – Minister

The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Mahmood Abubakar, has said that increasing agricultural productivity is key to ensuring an abundant supply of affordable food in the country.

Dr. Abubakar, who was representing the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, made this disclosure on Monday at the Feed Nigeria Summit 2022 in Abuja.

He stated that the recent flooding that ravaged many parts in Nigeria was an essential implication of climate change which has adversely impacted food supply and food security.

“It is clear that the challenge confronting us are multidimensional. We have prioritized the growth and development of agriculture because we understand the prominence of food security in National development. In 2015 we launched the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme through the Central Bank of Nigeria where 800 billion has been disbursed to more than 4 million farmers cultivating a variety of commodities over millions of hectares of farmland. We realized that we cannot do it alone and we need some technical assistance, that is why in 2016 we launched the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative; a Government-to-Government partnership with the Moroccan Government to increase the production of fertilizers,” Abubakar said.

The minister noted that the food insecurity and challenges faced by agriculture in Nigeria was due to climate change with the country experiencing a 34% reduction in agricultural productivity, adding that many farmlands and crops have been submerged by floods.

He further appreciated the African Development Bank group (AFDB), the UK Government and other partners for their concern for the development and well-being of Nigerians.

Agro Nigeria