Nigeria recapitalizes {Bank} of Agriculture with N1.5 trillion, eyes regional meals safety management
The Federal Authorities has invested over N200 billion in agricultural interventions and recapitalized the {Bank} of Agriculture with N1.5 trillion to boost meals safety and empower farmers nationwide.
This was revealed by the Minister of Agriculture and Meals Safety, Senator Abubakar Kyari, throughout a high-level engagement on Saturday, which featured bilateral talks, technical briefings, and a area tour of Nigeria’s nationwide mechanization fleet on the Nationwide Agricultural Seed Council in Sheda, Abuja.
Kyari reaffirmed Nigeria’s management position in remodeling regional meals techniques, describing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s July 2023 declaration of a State of Emergency on Meals Safety as a significant turning level within the nation’s agricultural trajectory.
“We’ve dedicated over N200 billion to agricultural interventions, distributed 2.15 million luggage of fertilizer, and recapitalized the {Bank} of Agriculture with N1.5 trillion to empower our farmers,” he stated.
Nigeria to collaborate with Gambia, ECOWAS on meals techniques
The minister emphasised Nigeria’s willingness to strengthen regional collaboration with The Gambia and different ECOWAS member states by joint technical missions and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
In response to him, Nigeria’s agricultural technique is anchored on sustainable mechanization, youth inclusion, meals sovereignty, and evidence-based policymaking.
Kyari additionally highlighted the event of a nationwide farmer registry in collaboration with the Nationwide Id Administration Fee (NIMC), concentrating on over 42 million farming households throughout the nation.
Gambia lauds Nigeria’s rice mannequin, seeks technical help
Additionally talking on the occasion, The Gambia’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Meals Safety, Dr. Demba Sabally, praised Nigeria’s achievements within the agricultural sector and referred to as for stronger bilateral cooperation, significantly in rice production and mechanization.
He stated the Gambian delegation was impressed by Nigeria’s progress, noting that the go to had rekindled their dedication to home meals production targets.
“We’ve seen the Nigerian mannequin in motion from the outgrower schemes to post-harvest administration. Our aim of reaching rice self-sufficiency by 2030 is now extra lifelike than ever. We request a Rice Ambassador from Nigeria to help our implementation,” Sabally acknowledged.
Echoing his remarks, The Gambia’s Everlasting Secretary, Ambassador Nyangado Alhagie, applauded Nigeria’s longstanding help throughout a number of sectors. He described the go to as “transformational,” particularly by way of replicable agricultural techniques that would speed up The Gambia’s meals safety agenda.
Nigeria’s rice success can information Africa — Abdullahi
Senator (Dr.) Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, CON, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Agriculture and Meals Safety, additionally addressed the gathering.
He described the go to as a testomony to African brotherhood and proof that Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, significantly in rice, is usually a mannequin for others.
He highlighted the rising acceptance and high quality of Nigerian rice, urging The Gambia to embrace native options and shared improvement.
Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, Everlasting Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Meals Safety, delivered a welcome handle, reiterating Nigeria’s dedication to mutual studying, technical trade, and regional self-reliance in agriculture.
