The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has described as unacceptable the $2 billion annual wheat importation to the country.
Speaking at the National Root Crops Research Institute in Kuru near Jos, the Plateau State capital at the Lake Chad Research Institute 1st Rainfed Wheat National Farmers Field Day, the minister said coupled with the scarcity of wheat in the international market as a result of the Russian-Ukraine war, Nigeria has no other choice than to boost its wheat production.
He said the rainfed wheat production initiative is therefore a welcome development as it will significantly reduce the cost of production of wheat, unlike when it was only planted in the dry season with an irrigation system.
Kyari stressed that Nigeria has all it takes to be self-sufficient in wheat production, adding that according to a 2020 CBN report Nigeria has over one million hectares of land that can be used for seed production, as well as the wheat farmers ready to produce the grain.
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He said, if all hands are put on deck, the nation will achieve its dream of attaining self-sufficiency in wheat production in no distant time.
Represented by the Desk Officer Wheat Value Chain in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Nephtali David Tella, the minister said they are committed to changing the wheat narrative of the country, and that they have already paid a visit to Kano and Jigawa state to inspect the certified wheat seeds with some seed companies.
The minister called on all wheat stakeholders to support the government’s production drive so that Nigeria can become sufficient in wheat production.
“As you all know, Nigeria expends $2 billion on wheat importation annually and this is worrisome, unacceptable and non-sustainable. Coupled with the scarcity of wheat in the international market as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Nigeria has no other choice than to boost its wheat production.
“What we are seeing today in the field is verifiable evidence that wheat can be grown under rainfed conditions. Wheat in Nigeria used to be grown under the irrigated condition from time immemorial, but today it can be grown under rain-fed condition.”
“This is a beautiful development and a breakthrough, and it is equally great news to policy makers in Plateau, Cross River and Taraba state where it is possible to grow wheat under the rain-fed condition.
In his remarks, the Director/CEL of Lake Chad Research Institute, Prof. Baba Gana Kabir, said wheat is a strategic crop and constitutes a huge economic burden on Nigeria’s import.
He said the high import bill of the commodity is due to extremely low domestic production and increasing consumption level.
