Agric, finance, budget ministers meet on food inflation
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, along with other stakeholders, convened to address food production challenges and reduce food inflation in Nigeria. The meeting, prompted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a food security emergency, focused on the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) Programme. Kyari emphasized the need to streamline supply chain activities and ensure accurate farmer data to prevent round-tripping and ensure inputs reach genuine farmers. The Governor of Kebbi State expressed interest in participating in the second phase of dry season farming, highlighting the state’s agricultural investments and readiness to contribute to national food security. Finance Minister Wale Edun highlighted available intervention funds to boost production of key crops like rice, maize, wheat, and cassava. Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, emphasized the agricultural sector’s potential for growth with increased investment. Source: The Guardian
Our Review
The meeting underscores the government’s commitment to addressing food security challenges through strategic initiatives like the NAGS-AP Programme. Efforts to combat issues like round-tripping and ensure input distribution to genuine farmers are crucial for optimizing agricultural productivity and reducing food inflation.
Kebbi State’s proactive measures and readiness to contribute to national food security demonstrate the importance of state-level collaboration. The availability of intervention funds presents an opportunity for leveraging resources to boost production across key crop sectors.
Bagudu’s recognition of the agricultural sector’s elasticity and potential for growth underscores the importance of sustained investment and innovation in driving agricultural transformation and economic development. Overall, the coordinated efforts of stakeholders signal a promising outlook for advancing Nigeria’s agricultural agenda and achieving food security objectives.
