₦airaland Forum

FG partners NGOs, private organisations to boost food security
Food

The Federal Government says it remains committed to promoting and creating synergies with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the private sector to enhance food security, economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari stated this on Thursday in Calabar during the distribution of farm inputs to farmers in Cross River.

Represented by Mr Bassey Iwara, Director, Agric Business and Market Development in the ministry, Kyari noted that the present administration had demonstrated the political will to transform the agricultural sector.

He explained that the President Bola Tinubu- led administration was implementing various economic reforms to stimulate productive capacity, create jobs, and reduce cost of living.

Kyari further noted that emergency responses and targeted humanitarian actions have also been taken to ameliorate food crisis in the country.

“Consequently, the ministry has rolled out many programmes and projects to address some of the challenges of farmers and make food available, accessible and affordable to all Nigerians.

“The ministry has considered the implementation of short-term plans and support mechanism to make essential farm inputs more affordable and accessible to farmers through a transparent and accountable process.

“Our foremost concern is the facilitation of agro-input as and basic farm machinery to small-scale farmers, who are constrained by the high market cost of these essential inputs, and this need assistance,” he stated.

Also, Mr Ekori Nsan, the state coordinator of the federal ministry of agriculture, asserted that the present administration had been putting smiles on the faces of farmers irrespective of the degree.

He urged the farmers to put the items to good use so as to achieve the intended goal of enhancing food securitty.

“The era of collect and sell or dump is gone; a follow up mechanism has been put in place; and it will be very bad for us to hear stories on this,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Asuquo Asuquo, commended the government for deeming it fit to provide them with the inputs.

He, however, appealed that the farmers be trained on how to use the inputs.

Items distributed were water sprayers and power tillers.