Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has said maize production is expected to contribute about N200billion to the Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product [GDP], with the wide uses of maize for both domestic and industrial uses.

Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina
Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina
Adesina stated this on Monday in Abuja at the book launched entitled “The Revolutionary Trend of Maize in Nigeria”, written by Prof. Joseph Fajemisin.

He explained that maize is used in flour mills, breweries, confectioneries, and animal feed manufacturers, adding that production figures have shown a steady increase of maize production from 7.4million metric tones (mt) in 2009 to the current 10.3million metric tones in 2013.

He stated that the production would be scaled up to 12million mt in 2014, adding that it would increase to 14 million mt if the quantity consumed as green maize is included.

The Minister further disclosed that under the Growth Enhancement Support [GES] and the electronic wallet scheme in 2012, that the Federal Government distributed 20kg of improved maize seeds and two bags of fertilizer to 2,739,126 maize farmers while in 2013, over 3.5 million farmers were reached with improved maize.

He noted that over 4.9 million farmers have been reached in 2014.

On the storage of maize, Adesina assured that there is adequate storage capacity for maize and other grains, with the commissioning of 100,000 mt of silos located at strategic places across the country.

He also said, following the introduction of GES and Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the present administration that the number of seed companies have risen from 6 to 80 compnaies within three years, providing about 20 per cent of the National Seed Requirements.

http://dailyindependentnig.com/2014/11/maize-production-contribute-n200b-nigerias-gdp-adesina/

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