AS part of efforts to boost food production and ensure national food security, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, recently disclosed that the Federal Government has invested over N200 billion in the agricultural sector. He further disclosed that the N200 billion was used as intervention to support farmers. He also said the government had also given out, free of charge, two million, one hundred- and fifty-thousand-naira worth fertilisers to support farmers across the country.

THE removal of the fuel subsidy at the beginning of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration birthed Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, so as to boost food production for the well-being of the people. Consequently, As one of the critical drivers of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration, the Minister of Agriculture, Kyari, was saddled with the responsibility of not only making food available to Nigerians but also boosting the sector to ensure food security. Subsequently, the ministry puts in place measures to synergise with states, local governments and the organised private sector to open up new farmlands across the states, to boost food production.

KYARI noted that his ministry has initiated key programmes, including dry-season farming, fertiliser distribution, mechanisation, and rural infrastructure upgrades. Over ₦309 billion has been committed to such interventions, with more than 60,000 jobs created and millions of hectares of land cultivated. The ministry,he said, also procured and distributed to all states and the FCT 58,500 metric tonnes of milled rice to dampen escalating prices, and fortified crops with vitamin A micronutrient to enrich the nutrition content and health value of commodities. In response to persistent food inflation, the government has also taken measures to distribute 60, 432 metric tonnes of improved seeds, 887,255 metric tonnes of seedlings and 62, 328 metric tonnes of inorganic fertilisers and equipment to farmers across different value chains to enhance production. Buy vitamins and supplements

HOWEVER, as commendable as this may sound, within a short time, these interventions should begin to have positive impacts on the masses, with the expectation that it will crash skyrocketing prices of foodstuffs.

Therefore, for this to be actualised, the reforms must go beyond policy announcement, there should be better execution, the interventions must reach the real farmers and not political farmers.

AGRICULTURE remains the bedrock of transformational growth and development of any nation. Prioritising agriculture should be crucial to any country as it forms the foundation of food security, economic growth, and poverty reduction. It provides essential food and raw materials, generates income and employment, and contributes to overall national development. Investing in agriculture can lead to increased productivity, value addition, and profitability, while also improving nutrition and reducing reliance on foreign food sources.

THE Hope believes that giving agriculture critical support and needed attention, it can eradicate Nigeria’s economic downturns. Food security remains a pressing issue in Nigeria, a country blessed with vast arable land and a climate suitable for growing diverse crops. Yet, many Nigerians still go to bed hungry, and the nation spends billions of dollars annually importing food that could be produced locally.

THE problem is not a lack of potential but a failure to implement effective agricultural reforms that could address the root causes of low productivity, high prices, and systemic inefficiency. If Nigeria is to feed its growing population and build a resilient economy, meaningful agricultural reform must become a top priority. Some of the biggest hurdles Nigerian farmers face are access to modern farming techniques and quality inputs. Many smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of the country’s agriculture, still rely on outdated methods passed down through generations.

WE, therefore, urge the Federal Government to increase budgetary allocation to agriculture so that young people, who often see farming as unattractive, could be drawn back to the sector if it’s modernised and made more profitable. Initiatives like training programmes in smart farming, subsidies for farmers, and partnerships with tech companies could turn agriculture into a thriving industry rather than a last-resort occupation.

THE Hope urges government at the central to decentralise the system of disbursing loans and imputs to farmers by allowing zonal offices closer to the farmers to take over the responsibilities, instead of farmers going to Abuja for loans. Since the developed nations have gone beyond relying on rain fed agricultural practices, we also call on government to invest in irrigation so that farmers can plant round the year just like the developed countries have gone beyond relying on rain before planting. Government should emulate this as the country is blessed with fertile land and able bodies.

Food security is a cornerstone of national stability and economic growth, Nigeria has the potential to be self-sufficient in food production and even become a major food exporter. However, this requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders, the government, the private sector, farmers, and the public to prioritize and implement sustainable solutions. By addressing the challenges and embracing the proposed solutions, Nigeria can build a resilient agricultural sector capable of feeding its growing population and ensuring a food-secured future for all.