My plans for agriculture, food security —Kyari

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2 years ago

| Abuja

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari recently unveil his plans for the agricultural sector for the next four years. The Minister highlighted some of the things he will achieve in the short term, medium term and long term.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu before appointing ministers, had declared state of emergency on food security, hence setting agenda for the ministers of agriculture as they assumed office on August 21, 2023.

While presenting his agenda for the agriculture sector, the minister said that the Ministry shall be guided by some lessons learned in the implementation of the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) which was launched for 2022 -2027.

He said accordingly, all the programmes and initiatives of the ministry shall be completely aligned to attaining the four presidential priorities which are food security, economic growth and job creation, poverty eradication, Inclusivity (youths and women) and enabling environment for individuals, groups and the private sector to participate in governance and economic activities.

Before the end of 2023, the minister said there will be certification of available planting materials for some food security crops in readiness for dry-season farming and aggressive promotion and preparations for dry season farming which commences from November.

He also said there will the implementation of the dry season Wheat production starting in November 2023 as part of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) projects funded by the African Development Bank.

This scheme according to the minister, targets to produce wheat over a 70,000 hectares across the wheat production zone of the country with an expected yield of 875,000 metric tonnes for the food reserve, blending of appropriate fertilisers to support this year’s dry season farming, while making provisions for next year farming season well in advance, providing Train-the-Trainer for extension agents involved in dry season farming in collaboration with wheat producing States and other partners such as flour mills.

“Furthermore, arrangements are also at advanced stage for dry season farming of rice, maize and other horticultural crops; hold the National Agriculture and Food Security Summit in November to bring all stakeholders together for development of National Action Plan for Food Security, with an implementation and sustainability strategy.

“The National Council for Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS) meeting will hold in Cross River State in November, to develop a strategic operational plan for Federal-State-Local Government joint implementation plans and strategies.

“The mechanisms and processes for delivering fertilisers and agro pesticides input to farmers under a transparent and accountable regime will be reviewed. This will be part of the main agenda at both the summit and the NCAFS meetings in November, and distribute pasture seeds and cuttings for dry season pasture and fodder development for livestock productivity beginning November 2023,” the Minister said.

On the short–term priority actions (2023-2024), the minister said there will be agriculture and food security stakeholders’ analysis and mapping, and significant investment in animals feed-crop, fodder and pasture production as an antidote to the farmers and herders clashes by focusing the development of paddocks, foliage and fodder estates equipped with necessary facilities for all-year round production. The minister also promised to strengthen agriculture and food security institutions and repositioning them for the tasks ahead.

He said there will be reform the National Agricultural Research System to serve as the engine of growth for innovative solutions to strategic value chains, increase productivity -yields of our food security and export crops, livestock and fisheries.

Kyari said the ministry will establish two new national gene bank facilities, each for crop and animal respectively, to conserve the fast-eroding genetic resources for food security.

“Fast-track the take-off and operations of the National Agricultural Development Fund, develop a National Framework for proper coordination and alignment of all ongoing and future development partners’ projects to our national priorities.

“Develop innovative communication, monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability platforms that guarantees continuous interface among all the critical stakeholders to ensure 24/7 engagements and field reporting. ICT tools will be deployed to support these platforms for the facilitation of e-extension services at scale.

“Develop a stakeholder engagement and communication strategy for agriculture and food security, develop a new strategy for strengthening agricultural infrastructure and provision of support to our new farm types (which shall be unveiled before the end of the year).”

He said the ministry will prepare a joint action plan with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to unlock the irrigation potentials of the River Basins Development Authorities and other flood plains in the country to guarantee all year round food production.

The minister said the ministry will conduct a comprehensive review of all existing agricultural laws and legislation to fast-track necessary amendments and enactments to support farmers’ welfare and private sector participation in agriculture and food security.

“Develop a standard framework and guide for ‘Ease of Doing Agriculture and Food Security (EDAFS)’ operations/projects/business in Nigeria, identify all available vacant farmlands in various Federal Government Institutions (Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education, Unity Schools, federally owned regimented areas like the military, police and para-military allocated vacant arable lands) to bring them into food production to enhance our food security indices.

“Collaborate and partner with states to revive secondary school farms to enhance food security and agri-business enterprises, promote urban agriculture that is technology-enabled and especially driven by innovations and the passions of our teeming youths.

“Enhance the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan for increased productivity and job creation, deepen engagement between farmers, herders, traditional institutions and communities to promote peaceful coexistence and conflict resolution,” Kyari said.

He said there are also plans to develop and promote a performance-based agricultural extension system, promote the establishment of agricultural marketing incubation centres (Agribusiness Development Centres) for youth and women across the six geopolitical zones.

Also, the minister said there will be capacity building to strengthen the farm inputs regulatory functions to enable them play their regulatory role to checkmate the infiltration of adulterated farm inputs i.e. fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides and institutionalisation in the ministry and consolidation of Nigerian Food System Dashboard for informed quality planning, policy decision and information dissemination on the state of food and nutrition in the Country.

He said the ministry will ensure the development of a robust and sustainable innovation ecosystem, a call for application for agronnovation enterprise and venture development competition targeting Nigerian youths is being developed.

On the medium term actions (2024-2026), Kyari said there will be the, development of digital/ICT Mobile-based Agro-industry System and E-extension platforms to support farmers through the establishment of the national centres in the six agro-ecological zones of Nigeria while the command and control office will be in Abuja.

He said meat, dairy, eggs, fish and other protein from animal sources will receive special intervention to increase productivity target of annual growth rate of 10 percent year on year.

“Our interventions will accelerate the uptake of minimum viable products from our institutions and agencies in the agricultural mechanisation and implements production space in Nigeria for full commercialisation by the private sector investment, development of comprehensive soil fertility mapping and soil information system for food security.

“Development and implementation of the National Farmers Soil Health Card Scheme to increase productivity, up-scaling and Out-scaling of various agricultural value chain projects in crops, livestock, fisheries and support services under the annual appropriation and special interventions.

“Using fintech solutions, wallets shall be created for all financial disbursements to deliver directly to the targeted end users. Priority shall be given to the use of digital and DEFI solutions to reform Bank of Agriculture and Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation among others,” the minister said.

He said the Ministry will conduct standard feasibility and viability studies for commodity board operations in Nigeria and set up world-class accredited laboratories in the research institutes that will receive and be governed by international standard organisation (ISO) certification and other regional, continental and international permits to validate the quality of our exports and certification before shipment.

Kyari noted that there will be the development of a new intergovernmental partnership framework for the implementation of mutually beneficial agricultural projects between federal, state and local governments.

“The minister will strengthen Commodity Exchange for agriculture in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, revive and promote home economics and food and nutrition knowledge transfers and practices at the state and local governments level under the watch of the First Lady of the Federal Republic and First Ladies at state levels for food and nutrition security.

“Development and promotion of cooperative models for impactful agricultural development across the various agriculture value-chains, promotion and strengthening of Agro-Rangers to include other paramilitary to assist in solving the problems of civil insecurity at the farm level#”, he Minister added.

Speaking on the Long Term actions (2024-2027) the Minister said there will be the development of a national agricultural database for planning and implementation of agriculture and food security programs and initiatives.

He said they are committed to working with relevant MDAs, private sector and international development partners to co-create a functional digital transformation platforms that will facilitate data driven precision farming, climate resilience and smart agricultural practices including e-extension services.

On technology, he said the Ministry will carry out technology/ICT enabled farms and farmers enumeration and mapping in collaboration with states, local governments and development partners.

“Repositioning the Universities of Agriculture, Veterinary Medicines and Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicines to play key roles in our agricultural transformation through the development of practical approaches for production and mechanization.

“We are set to unlock the job creation potentials of cold chain systems by encouraging private sector participation in community cold chain enterprises. The target is to incentivise the establishment of new food storage ventures across the country with direct and indirect new job creation.

“Reform and remodel the Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs) and the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) to focus on vocational skills development & management training for agriculture and food security issues.

“Development of critical mass of agricultural breeders (crops, livestock, and fisheries) and other emerging knowledge areas in ICT for agriculture (smart agriculture) to position our agricultural production system for the challenges of feeding an increasing population under scarce and challenged resource base”, he said.

He said there will also be the provision of support for acquiring advanced laboratories equipment to drive new One health approach for veterinary practices while ensuring collaboration with human health practitioners and researchers to achieve Nigeria’s One health.

He also revealed that there will be the establishment of new agro tourism hubs where our farms and national agricultural heritage can be made to create new wealth and jobs.

“Our target is to strengthen existing investments and encourage the youth and the practitioners/ investors in the hospitality industry to establish new agro tourist centres across the country.

“Review of existing curriculum for all fields of agriculture in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC) National Board of Technical Education(NBTE) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education towards the production of future agricultural graduates that are prepared for the next generation of agriculture (Agriculture 4.0);

“Establishment of Animal Disease Free Zones and of compartmentalization for export of livestock and livestock product, conduct a scientific migratory pattern studies on migratory birds (pest) to develop intervention map and mitigation measures for the control of trans boundary pests”, he stated.

The Minister promised to stabilize feed and other input products and prices in poultry value chain, strengthen the Community of Practice (CoP) for knowledge exchange and sharing of experiences to promote innovation and best practices amongst Federal, State and Local Government officials involved in agriculture and food security.

He said the Ministry will promote viable agricultural mechanization enterprises and services such as the tractor and equipment e-hailing hiring services at the State and Local Government levels to enhance tractorization.

According to him, there will be the establishment of multipurpose Input Resources and Communication Centres (IRCC) across the country in phases.

He said these centres will ensure transparent and accountable last mile delivery of agricultural inputs while creating effective communication platform and co-location of e-extension services digital platforms.

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