The Minister of Agriculture
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji
Muhammad Sabo Nanono has revealed that the Federal Government has
resolved to inject over N600 billion as stimulus response into the
agriculture sector, targetting small scale farmers, to ensure food
security and sustainability. The Minister stated this while on a
weekend tour of Dangote Fertilizer Plant, and a crucial meeting
with other Fertilizer companies in Lagos State, to galvanize their
cooperation for input production.
Nanono had explained that the well over N600 billion stimulus
response which targets farmers nationwide will take off with an
initial 2.4 million farmers in the first instance. He also
noted that to avoid the abuse of government funds and good
intentions, the support will be in kind in form of inputs and not
cash as was the practice in the past. The Minister added that the
forceful closure of all International borders, necessitated by the
COVID-19 Pandemic, has made it evident that Nigeria can
conveniently and sustainably feed itself.
The Minister had commenced his tour with a courtesy call on the
Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo
-olu where he pledged to support the state farming communities with
rural roads, solar lighting and water holes so as to encourage and
empower them to increase productivity. He also promised to
collaborate with Lagos State Government in the fishing sector in
order to tap the potentials of its marine endowments and
drastically reduce the importation of fish in Nigeria.
In his response, Babajide Sanwo – olu who had received the
Minister in company of his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and
other State officials, promised to collaborate with the Federal
Government not only in the fishing sector but also to join forces
in the Federal government’s effort to embark on mechanized
farming.
Sanwo -olu while recognizing agriculture as a critical component
of development stated that he will complement Federal Governments
effort when he completes his project, the largest rice mill in
Nigeria with a capacity to mill approximately 30 million Metric
Tons of rice per annum. This he said will help Nigeria focus more
on exportation of rice and downward review of prices at the retail
market.
The Governor said that Lagos State is presumably the largest
retail market for agricultural products as well as the largest
enabler in the industry with Dangote Fertilizer Plant cited in its
domain.
In another engagement over dinner, the Minister and Permanent
Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Abdulkadir Mu’azu, had interacted
with Agro -Input Dealers in Lagos to discuss quality, affordability
and availability of fertilizer in the country.
The big player, Dangote Group and other fertilizer blending
companies, Premium Agro Limited, Elephant Group and Kewalram Group
stated that raw materials for fertilizer blending, most
especially Ammonium phosphate, is the major challenge they
face. However, the cherry news is that Dangote Group is
considering the exploration of local source for the raw materials
which they are hopeful and confident that once the domestic source
is remedied, the problem of fertilizer shortfall will become
history in the country.
The Minister was overwhelmed with this revelation and is of the
opinion that with the impressive strategies initiated by the
Dangote Group, the outcome will change the narrative of
agriculture, food production/ Fertilizer availability and the
nation’s economy for good before the close of 2020.
Theodore Ogaziechi
Director Information