PRESIDENCY PROVIDES CLARIFICATION ON THE TIMELINESS OF FOOD ITEM DISTRIBUTION

The Presidency has indicated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is in the final stages of releasing 42,000 metric tonnes (MT) of assorted food commodities to support vulnerable Nigerians.

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed on Friday that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is currently bagging the grains at seven strategic reserve locations using newly ordered bags. He clarified that Nigerians would not be required to pay for the grain bags as they are provided free of charge. Additionally, Onanuga mentioned the federal government’s plan to purchase 60,000 metric tonnes of milled rice from Mega Rice Millers.

Addressing the impact of the announcement on commodity prices, the Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, noted a significant drop in prices across major grain markets in the country.

Onanuga highlighted the federal government’s efforts to boost food production through the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) project, specifically focusing on dry-season farming. The first phase of dry-season farming, initiated in November 2023, prioritizes the cultivation of wheat in 15 states, covering 118,657 hectares and involving 107,429 farmers. According to Kyari, the fields are flourishing, and harvest is expected in the coming weeks.

Kyari further mentioned that the second phase of dry-season farming, encompassing rice, maize, and cassava, is set to commence soon across all 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

John C. Azu and Baba Martins; From the News Source: DailyTrust