Maiduguri: The Federal Government has announced that its agricultural reforms are designed to ensure food availability, affordability, and accessibility for all Nigerians. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, shared this information with newsmen in Maiduguri. Kyari emphasized the government’s ongoing interventions in the agricultural sector to tackle food insecurity and revive the national economy.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the ministry has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to address challenges such as insecurity, flooding, and import dependency, particularly in critical areas like wheat and rice production. Kyari highlighted the launch of a national wheat farming programme aimed at reducing the over six million tonnes of wheat currently imported annually. He noted that Cross River had become the first southern state to join the wheat production drive, marking a significant milestone in diversifying the crop’s geographic spread.

Fertiliser distribution under the programme has reportedly boosted rice production by 58,000 tonnes, enabling the Federal Government to subsidise rice supply to states affected by flooding. In addition to wheat, Kyari mentioned that the ministry has led a successful rice programme, resulting in positive harvests nationwide. He stressed the importance of protecting both consumers and producers, noting that 80 per cent of the country’s food is produced by local farmers.

With Nigeria’s population projected to reach 400 million by 2050, Kyari stated that the government is focusing on mechanised agriculture and youth empowerment to ensure long-term food security. Efforts are also underway to restore national assets, including tractors and essential equipment, to boost productivity. As part of reducing post-harvest losses, Kyari announced a bilateral agreement with Brazil focused on the preservation, processing, and storage of perishable food items. Additionally, Nigeria has partnered with Belarus to provide aggregation services aimed at significantly increasing output.

The minister warned against the misuse of government-supplied agricultural machinery, urging farmers to use such equipment judiciously. He further revealed that only three of Nigeria’s silo sites are currently functional, but plans are in place to reactivate the remaining facilities. “The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will collaborate with stakeholders to ensure these critical storage facilities are fully utilised,” Kyari said.