The President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr. AKabir Ibrahim, says that the National Agricultural Growth Scheme – Agro Pocket project of the Nigerian government is empowering 500,000 farmers starting in February 2025.
Mr Ibrahim told Punch newspaper in an interview that the price of rice in Nigeria would drop since Nigerian Government has decided to steps up its efforts to support local farmers, particularly those engaged in rice production.
According to him, the intervention will provide comprehensive support to the farmers and contribute to ramping up rice production, which has faced challenges in recent years.
“There is a NAGS-AP project going on. It’s going to start in February. It’s going to capture 500,000 farmers with full support. So, and last year, something happened. It didn’t work. They didn’t do it on time. It will ramp this up,” Ibrahim explained.
The announcement comes amid rising concerns over the steep increase in food prices, especially rice.
Despite government interventions to boost agricultural output, the decline in production has raised alarms about food security.
The report stated that the data from the United States Department of Agriculture indicated a noticeable drop in milled rice production, a trend that has been evident since the 2023/2024 planting season.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, in his comments about the government’s strategy to enhance food security said, “It is essential for us to inform Nigerians and the world about our efforts to achieve food and nutrition efficiency, thereby combating hunger, starvation, and malnutrition in the country.”
The Federal Government’s latest initiative, aimed at empowering 500,000 farmers, is part of a broader strategy to address these challenges.
The permanent secretary announced the launch of “Operation Empty the Store,” by the Federal Government, a project aimed at distributing agricultural equipment and inputs to farmers, including fertilizers, sprayers, and motorized weeders.
Ogunbiyi noted that this would ensure farmers receive the tools they need to boost productivity during the second phase of the 2024-2025 farming seasons.
The government has also been heavily investing in agriculture to reduce food insecurity.
The AFAN president pointed out that transportation costs were a key factor in the rising prices of food, urging the government to address fuel prices and invest more in infrastructure development.
“When farmers face high transportation costs, they have no choice but to increase prices to cover these expenses,” Ibrahim said.
GIK/APA