FG procures hybrid wheat seedlings to boost food security

Samuel Luka, Bauchi

The Federal Government of Nigeria has procured hybrid wheat seeds in order to boost food security ahead of the 2023 dry season farming in the country.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari who was at the Lagos port to inspect the consignment, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the giant stride.

While recalling that a total of 23,000 hectares of farmland are expected to be cultivated in the first phase of the dry season wheat farming programme, the minister said that the Hybrid Wheat seeds ordered by the FG have arrived at the Nigerian port in Lagos and is ready for distribution to farmers across the country

It will be also recalled that the President had declared a state of emergency on food security in the country and made agriculture and food security the number one priority of his Renewed Hope administration.

The Minister, while speaking to newsmen, said that, “If you all recall the statement of food emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, sometime in July. When he came into office, he kick-started this process of the wheat dry season farming.”

While commending the efforts so far made in that direction, the BOT Chairman of Northern Intellectual Youths Progressives Forum (NIYPF),
Sulaiman Isah QS, said that the APC led administration has demonstrated that it is ready to make food readily available for the citizens.

Addressing Journalists in Bauchi on Monday, Suleiman Isah QS hailed the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari for showing interest in ensuring that the programme succeeded by personally taking the pain to go to the Port to monitor the arrival of the seeds.

Suleiman Isah described the action of the minister as a demonstration of commitment and dedication to service, adding that the Minister is doing everything possible to see the success of the programme, which he said will further stabilize the economy of the country.

“Wheat farmers will have it good this time around. All the seeds they need and other things have arrived the country and as soon as the President returned from Saudi Arabia, the process of distribution will commence.”, Suleiman Isah assured.

He further stressed that the appointment of Sen Abubakar Kyari as Minister of Agriculture and Food Security was in the right direction considering his track records in Borno state while he represented it at the Senate.

He then charged the wheat farmers that will benefit from the programme to ensure that they abided by the directives from experts in order to have a bumper harvest at the end.

The BOT Chairman also expressed confidence that by time the product is harvested, it will bridge the gap in availability of wheat to flour Millers in the country and can be exported for revenue generation.