Kaduna: The Federal Government has announced its commitment to enhancing crop yields sustainably by focusing on the development of climate-resilient and disease-tolerant crops. These crops are expected to withstand pests, diseases, and extreme weather conditions, a crucial step towards improving food security in the country.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the assurance was given by Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture, during the 47th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agricultural and Food Security (NCAFS) held in Kaduna. The theme for the 2025 NCAFS meeting is ‘Food Sovereignty and Food Security in an Era of Renewed Hope’.
The minister highlighted that the government is actively addressing the challenges within Nigeria’s agricultural sector by outlining a clear policy direction and strategic roadmap for the implementation of key programmes and projects. Among these initiatives are the recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, and the Dry Season Initiative, which aims at facilitating year-round farming on 500,000 hectares.
He elaborated that efforts are underway to make farm inputs more accessible and affordable. Additionally, the government is enhancing gender-responsive extension services, improving credit access, and providing training on climate-smart farming and mechanisation.
The introduction of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme was also noted by Abdullahi. This comprehensive framework, consisting of seven strategic pillars, is designed to reposition the cooperative sector for financial inclusion and agricultural development.
Abdullahi emphasized Nigeria’s potential to transform its food production systems significantly, contributing to regional food security. He noted that Nigeria, with its vast agricultural potential, aims to reduce dependence on imports, bolster market confidence, and revitalize agribusiness to establish itself as a leading food supplier in West Africa.
The meeting was convened to propose actionable measures to strengthen national unity against hunger, malnutrition, and poverty, while advancing food and nutrition security. This aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to achieve food sovereignty and security for the nation.
To reach food self-sufficiency, Abdullahi stressed the importance of attaining full production potential of staple crops, including maize, wheat, sorghum, millet, soybean, cassava, yam, cowpeas, and potatoes. He highlighted the need to prioritize climate-smart agriculture to sustainably increase yields and advance adaptation and mitigation goals across crop, livestock, and fisheries production.