Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, said President Bola Tinubu had mandated him and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, to move Nigeria away from food insecurity and ensure that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Abdullahi, who stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the Nigerian Women for Agricultural Progressive and Development Initiative (NWAPDI) Youth Wing Convention, said robust policies and measures have been undertaken to achieve food security in Nigeria.
He said “The President has told us severally that his vision is a nation where no man goes to bed hungry.”
The minister stated that there is no civilisation without food security, adding that “lack of food security cannot be tolerated in any nation.”
He contended that Nigeria has all the potential to achieve food security, noting that Nigeria’s arable land is about 73million hectares, while 34million hectares are currently under cultivation.
While encouraging Nigerian youth to embrace agriculture, he asserted that “agriculture remains the only source of sustainable wealth.”
In line with Renewed Hope Agenda, the minister revealed that policies have been put in place to drive sustainable food production.
As part of policies introduced by the Federal Government to drive sustainable food production, he stated that Agriculture Mechanisation had been introduced to remove the drudgery associated with subsistence farming.
According to him, “President Tinubu has approved some powerful agricultural intervention programmes in agriculture mechanisation.
“The Greener Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme (GHAPP) has been approved for the establishment of modern agricultural mechanisation service centres and hubs across 37 farming clusters.
The programme will leverage technical partnerships from South Korea, Taiwan, and Brazil to produce and supply agricultural machinery and establish enterprise centres nationwide.
“We also have the Balerius Agric Mechanisation programme which is expected to provide 10,000 tractors over the period of 5 years.
“We also have John Deere agricultural Mechanisation programme, where tractors, ridgers, among others are expected to be provided. All tractors are smart tractors.”
To ensure precision agriculture, he explained that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security would soon establish the Nigeria Farmers’ Soil Health Card Scheme (NFSHCS), as a pivotal initiative aimed at integrating principles of agroecology and regenerative agriculture, in line with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He explained that Nigeria Farmer’s Soil Health Card would increase awareness of the health of soil in agricultural areas across the country to boost productivity and bring about prosperity.
In his remarks, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, Minister of State for Education, said his Ministry would work with some States to ensure the establishment of School Farm Clubs, as part of measures to catch them young.
Sununu, who commended the organisers of the Convention, urged them to ensure that the activities of the organisation get to the people at the grassroots.
In her welcome address, National Co-ordinator of NWAPDI, Omolara Svensson, underscored the crucial role of youth in agricultural productivity.
Svensson pointed out that “Food security, accessibility, climate change, farm technology, risk management, and financial empowerment are critical issues that we must address to ensure a bright future for our agriculture.”
According to her, “By supporting and advocating women’s empowerment in agriculture, we have unlocked some potentials of our agricultural sector.
“But we need to fire on all cylinders to ensure that everyone has access to nutritious and affordable food.
She harped on the need for Nigerian youth to embrace agriculture, adding that the Convention was organised to empower youth with the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary to drive sustainable agricultural practices.
Mariam Tijjani Suleiman, one of the participants at the Convention, said
the survival of the human race is deeply rooted in agriculture.
Suleiman affirmed that Nigeria’s path to self-sufficiency in food production requires the energy, creativity, and intelligence of young people.
While acknowledging that Nigerian youth are confronted with challenges such as unemployment, economic instability, poverty, she underscored the need for them to rise above these challenges by embracing vast opportunities in the agricultural sector.
The theme of the Convention is, “Sowing the Seeds of Sustainability: Nigerian Youth Transforming Agriculture for a Greener Future.”