From Our Correspondent
The Federal Government has secured a $134m loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to boost seeds and grain production in the country.
TheNewsZenith reports that Eremah Anthonia, the Chief Information Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, announced the loan in statement, on Thursday.
Anthona quoted Agriculture & Food Security Minister, Abubakar Kyari, to have said this at the flag-off of the 2024/2025 National Dry Season Farming initiative in Calabar.
The minister said the national dry season farming was key to ensuring all year-round agricultural production in the country.
According to him, that is why the government re-introduced the national dry season farming.
He also said the loan would be instrumental in guaranteeing national food security.
The loan will support increased production of critical crops such as wheat, rice, maize, sorghum, soybean and cassava.
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The minister said the loan would be used to fund part of the National Agricultural Growth Support Scheme.
Kyari said the Federal Government had already declared an emergency on food production to ensure that Nigerians have access to affordable and nutritious food.
On the 2023/2024 dry season programme, the minster said the government had supported 107,429 wheat farmers under phase 1.
The government also supported 43,997 rice farmers under phase 2, and an additional 192,095 farmers growing rice, maize, sorghum, millet, soybean, and cassava.
The minister said the federal government had chosen Cross River State for the pivotal role in Nigeria’s wheat production.
He added that more than 3,000 wheat farmers in the Cross River State would benefit from the AfDB loan.
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