Wheat farming: FG warns against selling, diversion of dry season inputs

The Federal Government has warned farmers against selling or diversion of 2023 dry season farming inputs.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made the call at the official flag-off of the 2023 dry season wheat development season under the national agricultural growth scheme (nags-ap) in Jigawa State.

He said the dry season farming is an integral part of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and AgroPocket (NAGS-AP) Project, made possible by a $134m loan facility advanced to Nigeria by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Sen. Kyari said the present administration resolved to expand the capacity of farmers to engage them in the cultivation of key staples like rice, maize, cassava and wheat, across the country.

According to him, “farmers are adequately supported with a 50% inputs subsidy aimed at significantly reducing food inflation, as well as Nigeria’s dependence on foreign imports, while increasing domestic consumption.”

He urged farmers to utilize the support to achieve the targeted objective.

“You will be monitored from planting up to the time of harvest, we want to see you in the field, not to take the input to markets,” he said.

The Minister directed the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and other security agencies to monitor the distribution of the products to avoid diversion or any subversive activity capable of undermining the program.