Food Security: FG to inject N600bn into agriculture

The Federal Government is set to inject over N600 billion as stimulus-response into the agriculture sector to cushion the adverse impact of the coronavirus on the nation.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, made this known in a statement signed by the Director of Information of the ministry, Theodore Ogaziechi on Sunday in Abuja, saying the Minister made this known while on a tour of Dangote Fertiliser Plant and other fertiliser companies in Lagos State.

Nanono said the stimulus package would target small scale farmers to ensure food security and sustainability explaining that the package would target farmers nationwide and is expected to begin with an initial 2.4 million farmers.

He noted that to avoid the abuse of government funds and good intentions, the support would be in the form of inputs and not cash as was the practice in the past adding that the closure of all international borders, necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, had made it evident that Nigeria could conveniently and sustainably feed itself.

The Minister, who commenced the tour with a courtesy call on the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, promised to support the state farming communities with rural roads, solar lighting and water holes to increase productivity.

Nanono further promised to collaborate with the Lagos State government in revamping the fish sub-sector in order to tap into its marine potentials to reduce fish importation.