The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, announced that National Agricultural Research Institutes have released a total of 23 crop varieties under the current administration, all certified by the National Varietal Release Committee.
During the Sectoral Press Briefing Series marking the administration’s first year, organized by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Kyari highlighted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with John Deere and Tata Africa to assemble and supply 10,000 tractors with implements and accessories, at a rate of 2,000 units annually, along with 100 combined harvesters to bolster production.
Kyari also mentioned the administration’s efforts to supply 2,000 tractors from Belarus and, in partnership with the Brazilian government, provide mechanization hubs across the federation with an investment of 995,000 Euros.
Further achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration include the promotion of e-Extension Services through the Farmers Help Line and the establishment of One-Stop Extension Services Delivery Centres nationwide.
On rural infrastructure, Kyari reported the construction of 77.8 km of asphalt roads, 130.9 km of earthen roads, the provision of 102 motorized and solar-powered boreholes, and the installation of 6,504 solar street lights.
In agro-processing and value addition, Kyari noted the implementation of the Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme in Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Imo states, and the FCT for the production and processing of various crops and livestock.
He highlighted the establishment of two Agribusiness Incubation Centres at the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State, and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, as well as the completion of an 8MT/hr Large Scale Integrated Rice Processing Mill in Suleja, Niger State.
Kyari also emphasized efforts to intensify the production and processing of Soybean, Sesame, Ginger, Hibiscus, and tree crops for export, and the improvement of standardization and quality assurance processes for exportable agricultural commodities.
To support farmers, the federal government has distributed 60,432 metric tons of improved seeds, 887,255 seedlings, 138 value kits, 501,726 litres of agrochemicals, 62,328.5 metric tons of inorganic fertilizers, 1,000 kg of fungicide, and 33,200 pieces of equipment across various value chains.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that the purpose of the Sectoral press briefing is to enlighten, inform, and educate Nigerians and the global community, ensuring that everyone is kept informed with detailed, credible, and timely information.
