FG to give 50% subsidy to wheat farmers, says minister

The Federal Government has announced plans to give a 50 percent subsidy to wheat farmers in the upcoming dry season to boost the production of grain in the country.

The Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this on Friday after inspecting some wheat seed production facilities in Kano and Jigawa states. He said the subsidy was part of President Tinubu’s agenda to ensure food security and self-sufficiency in Nigeria.

“We are fully committed to massive wheat production in the upcoming dry seasons for local and foreign export actions,” Kyari said. He added that the government was making efforts to have enough seeds to cover the 70,000 hectares of land allocated for wheat farming across the country.

He expressed satisfaction with the quality of the locally produced seeds, saying they would help to phase out wheat importation by next year. He noted that wheat importation was taking a toll on Nigeria’s foreign reserves and affecting the local economy.

Kyari also commended Jigawa State for providing 40,000 hectares of land for wheat farming, saying it was close to achieving the target set by the Federal Government. He said the government planned to secure the nation’s food production and be self-sufficient in wheat production within the next four to five years.

The minister visited the National Wheat Council warehouses at Sharada, AA Albasu Grains Company, and Alyumna Seeds Production Company during his inspection tour. He urged the farmers and seed producers to cooperate with the government and work hard to achieve the desired results.