The federal authorities stated Monday that agriculture would create 5 to 10 million jobs throughout the nation within the 2024 dry season.
This was disclosed on the thirtieth common assembly of the Nationwide Water Sources and Sanitation Council organized by the Federal Ministry of Water Sources and Sanitation in Abuja.
Final week, The PONS solely reported that farmers and agro-dealers have been optimistic that the price of meals gadgets might drop within the coming months as a result of clearing of about 323,000 hectares of agricultural land throughout the nation with the help of the federal authorities.
The report said that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Meals Safety's Nationwide Agricultural Progress Scheme and Agro-Pocket Undertaking, January 2024, confirmed that 4 main crops: wheat, rice, maize and cassava are presently grown in giant portions. beginning with wheat.
It said that the doc, obtained from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Meals Security, indicated that the goal hectares to be cultivated underneath the 2023/2024 dry season agriculture for the totally different crop worth chains have been wheat, 123,000 hectares; rice, 150,000 hectares; corn, 30,000 hectares; and cassava, 20,000 hectares.
Commenting on agriculture on this yr's dry season, Ministry of Water Sources and Sanization Everlasting Secretary Shehu Aliyu, whereas addressing the Nationwide Water Sources Council on Monday, stated some applications have been launched to make sure the profitable implementation of the dry interval of 2024. seasonal farming and create thousands and thousands of jobs.
He stated: “In my resolution to hitch the Meals Safety Declaration of Emergency and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present authorities, I want to inform you that the Ministry has launched the next three flagship applications: Water for Expanded Irrigated Agriculture Program ; Partnership for Expanded Irrigation Program; and river basin technique for poverty discount.
“The implementation of the above applications has commenced with the launch of dry season farming masking a complete of 120,000 hectares of land in Jigawa State in November 2023 by the Federal Authorities in partnership with Jigawa State underneath the the Nationwide Wheat Growth Program. .
“In view of the foregoing, some RBDAs (River Basin Growth Authorities) have already taken benefit of the present intervention to launch dry season agriculture within the river basins.”
Based on Aliyu, the remaining SGDAs, who’re but to take action, are inspired to observe go well with.
“The anticipated end result of the assorted interventions is to create 5 to 10 million jobs for our teeming youth throughout the agricultural worth chain,” he said.
The Everlasting Secretary additional defined that key elements of the declaration of a state of emergency on meals safety with regard to the water and sanitation sector embrace the truth that “all issues referring to the provision and affordability of meals and water as important sources of existence shall be included within the jurisdiction of the Nationwide Safety Council”.
He stated there may be an pressing want for synergy between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Meals Safety and the Federal Ministry of Water Sources and Sanitation to make sure sufficient irrigation of agricultural land and guarantee year-round meals manufacturing.
He famous that the assertion additionally required the ministry to “allow our safety structure to guard farms and farmers in such a means that farmers can return to farmlands with out worry of being attacked.”
“The 12 River Basin Growth Authorities ought to guarantee crop planting throughout the dry season with irrigation techniques that guarantee steady agricultural manufacturing all year long to counter seasonal shortage,” he added.
Additionally final week, Kwara Governors, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; Taraba, Agbu Cephas; Ondo, Fortunate Aiyedatiwa; and Kogi, Ahmed Ododo, stormed the Abuja headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Meals Safety to push for elevated crop manufacturing to make sure meals safety in Nigeria.
Abdulrazaq, who can also be Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Discussion board, had advised the Minister of Agriculture and Meals Safety, Abubakar Kyari, on the assembly that due consideration needs to be paid to meals safety.
Nonetheless, he harassed that the nation's meals stays the most cost effective in West Africa.
Recall that The PUNCH had reported final week that youths and girls from Niger State took to the streets of Minna to protest what they referred to as the biting hardship, rising meals costs and harsh dwelling circumstances within the nation.
However whereas talking on behalf of the governors on the assembly on the Agriculture Ministry, Abdulrazaq identified that the Anchor Debtors Program beforehand applied by the Central Financial institution of Nigeria underneath its former boss, Godwin Emefiele, didn’t yield a lot.
He referred to as on the Agriculture Minister to work arduous to attain the federal government’s meals targets because it was very important for the Nigerian lots, including that state governors would work with the ministry.
“We couldn't obtain a lot with the CBN Anchor Debtors program, it was fairly a problem. The difficulty of meals safety is a one-stop store and we should concentrate on what we’re doing. We have to concentrate on what we do for dry season agriculture.
“The minister has give you a cassava, rice and maize program and we need to be a part of that program and urgently be sure that we enhance our yield and provide it to the Nigerian individuals.
“We need to attain a stage the place we export our meals. What now we have now could be that due to the devaluation of our naira, Nigerian meals is being exported to West Africa and is presently the most cost effective within the area,” stated the Governor of Kwara State.
