Market News
Nigeria targets wheat production to strengthen naira, boost economy - PUNCH
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mohammad Abubakar, has identified wheat production as a potential game-changer for Nigeria’s struggling economy, targeting over 2 million tonnes across 19 northern states.
Represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Food Security, Adewoye Adeyemi, the minister made this disclosure during an on-the-spot assessment of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket Programme in Dadin Kowa, Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, on Thursday.
The minister explained that the initiative aims to reduce wheat importation, boost exportation, and strengthen the country’s currency.
Abubakar said, “We have no doubt that by next year (2025), we will have a bumper harvest. I believe the programme has been largely successful.
“The programme has improved since last year, and Mr President’s expectations have been met. We can go beyond 20 workers; we can reach 40, 60, 70, or even 80 workers actively participating in this initiative.
“We expect about a 60 per cent yield, with over 2 million tonnes across the 19 northern states involved in this programme,” he added.
The minister further stated that the focus would not be limited to wheat alone but would leverage the comparative advantages of different regions.
He said, “We want to close the deficit gap, reduce importation, and increase local consumption. This will lower costs, boost local production, and strengthen the naira. By reducing importation, our currency will gain strength. While this is currently the wheat season, we are also focusing on other crops.”
On the timely distribution of farming inputs, Abubakar noted, “We have learnt many lessons regarding logistics, particularly delays caused by farmers needing to submit data. This won’t happen again. We will start early and transition from dry season to wet season farming, aiming for year-round production to mitigate the food crisis.”
The minister also assured that steps were being taken to protect farmers.
He said, “We have agreements with certain companies as off-takers. One of the main issues in Nigeria is value addition, and we have addressed that. Farmers will not be cheated under this programme.”
Speaking further, the minister hinted that Gombe State will have a Compressed Natural Gas centre, adding that the high cost of food in the state and the country at large is induced by the cost of transportation.
He identified transportation as a major cause of the high cost of food in the country, stressing that by the time the CNG centre is established, it would help to solve the problem.
He said, “The issue of food inflation the biggest elephant is transportation that was why I mentioned CNG.
“As of today, we have 150 centres in Nigeria before this year runs out we are adding 40 by the time we have CNG converting centres and CNG filling stations.
“The elephant of inflation would have gone down by February we will have one in Gombe, and I’m coming with them to participate in the negotiation of the CNG centre and with that prices of food will drop.”
