Nigeria Targets 2.7 Million Metric Tons of Wheat Production
By Ene Okwanihe, Abuja
The National Land Development Authority (NALDA) says it targets the production of 2.7 million metric tonnes of wheat across the country as part of efforts to crash the price of wheat in Nigeria.
This will save the country from paying huge money on imports and create job opportunities for Nigerians.
The NALDA commenced harvest of its 1000 thousand metric tons wheat farm in Gombe state North Northeast Nigeria.
The Gombe Wheat farm is one of other wheat farms spread across the country.
Make flour accessible
The Executive Secretary of NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne, while hosting the Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya in Abuja Nigeria’s capital, said the effort by the Authority to expand wheat production would also make flour accessible to people.
Prince Ikonne, who said the projected target is achievable, noted that the country has all it takes to achieve the targeted wheat production with the willingness of farmers.
“This is very important because nature has also made it that it is very urgent for Nigeria to take advantage of what is happening in the world towards producing our own wheat, maize and other crops.
“We have the potential, the manpower, good weather and others. President Muhammadu Buhari has resuscitated NALDA to make sure we get the land, get people motivated and make our farmers get back to farming.
“We have procured some processing machines so that it will be easy for farmers to start wheat processing. The small and big flour Mills also need the raw materials.
“We have resolved in Gombe and with the Governor’s visit, we can do more, the Governor has pledged 4,500 hectares for our aggressive production that NALDA is collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the result we got shows that it’s achievable,” he said.
Speaking further, Ikonne noted that NALDA has divided its plant projects into two parts where they are working with universities to get land for food production.
According to him, the Authority is working with the Ministry of Education through the Minister, Adamu Adamu to get 30,000 hectares of land not being used from Universities.
The NALDA boss said the land would be divided for Maize, Cassava and Wheat production.
“As we speak, we are clearing 100 hectares land in Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) Imo State, we already have 100 hectares of land at University of Agriculture, Umudike and we have already cleared and planted plantain at one of the universities in Aba, Abia State, “ he said.
“We are grateful to God and we thank President Buhari for his mindset of putting Nigerians on the path of sustainability for the country to be food sufficient.
On his part, Governor Inuwa while commending NALDA’S effort towards achieving good security, said Gombe State is already in line with the target.”
He said: “We cultivated 200 hectares of wheat this year and the result is good, that is why we are working with NALDA to expand our production. With the recent development of the Russian – Ukraine war, we need to do more to stop importation of wheat.
On sustainability, Inuwa noted that the state would expand and sustain production with the support of the people for the country to be self-sufficient.
He adds that Gombe is an agrarian state, with 80 percent of its people into agriculture.
Lateefah Ibrahim
