The Federal Government has secured a N65b loan from the African Development Bank to bolster agricultural productivity for staple food crops during both dry and wet seasons.
The acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Oluwatoyin Alade, who made this known during a meeting with stakeholders, said the meeting was to evaluate the progress of the 2023/2024 dry season wheat production in 15 states and to strategically plan for the upcoming second phase focusing on rice, maize and cassava.
Under the Policy Base Operations (PBO) initiative, funded by the African Emergency Food Production Facility (AEFPF), the exercise is poised to roll out across all states and the FCT over the next two years.
Mrs Alade said the National Agricultural Growth Scheme (NAGS) has a strategic goal of enhancing food production and stabilising agricultural commodity prices while providing crucial farm inputs to small-scale farmers and extending institutional support for long-term sustainability.
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As the ministry took stock of the achievements and hurdles encountered during the 2023/2024 Dry Season Wheat Production, it made a firm commitment to rectify any shortcomings and ensure the programme’s integrity.
Emphasis was laid on the imperative adherence to guidelines and principles in supply chain activities and the use of reliable technology systems to promote transparency and accountability.
During the stakeholders’ review and preparatory event for the NAGS-AP, particular attention was given to the previous dry season programme, applauding the distribution of certified wheat seeds and agricultural inputs to farmers.
The official flag-off ceremony in Jigawa State marked the commencement of the 2023/2024 dry season farming.
