Federal Government Launches National Agricultural Goods Scheme to Combat Inflation

The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken a significant step towards addressing the country’s ongoing food shortages and high food inflation by implementing the first phase of the National Agricultural Goods Scheme.

This initiative targets wheat, rice, maize, and cassava production, with the aim of ramping up food production and ensuring sustainable food and nutrition security in the country.

Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, announced the launch of the scheme during the 1st Post-Harvest Connect Conference organized by the Nigeria Stored Product Research Institute (NSPRI) in Abuja on Thursday.

The conference, themed ‘Scaling Appropriate Post-Harvest Solutions for Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security’, brought together stakeholders to discuss innovative solutions to tackle the nation’s food challenges.

In 2023 and 2024, the government successfully implemented the first phase of the National Agricultural Goods Scheme, achieving 180,652 hectares of millet with an estimated output of 55,600 to 75,000 metric tons of wheat grains for the upcoming rainy season.

The government aims to target 600,000 hectares, involving 1.2 million farmers across five major food crops: rice, maize, sorghum, soybean, and cassava, nationwide to consolidate the gains made in the past.

Dr. Abdullahi commended the executive director and supporters of the initiative and emphasized the importance of collaboration between research institutes and Nigerians to benefit from innovative solutions in post-harvest research and innovation.

He also urged research institutes to renew their collaborative activities with Nigerians, particularly the NSPRI, to ensure adequate provision in the 2024 budget for national post-harvest programs across various agricultural zones.

Dr. Canisius Kanangire, the executive director of NSPRI, highlighted the need for appropriate post-harvest solutions for sustainable food and nutrition security.

He stressed the importance of partnerships and collaboration for better results in supporting critical aspects of agricultural value chain development.

As Nigeria embarks on this ambitious project to achieve self-sufficiency in food and nutrition, the government and its partners are confident that innovative technologies and effective collaboration will pave the way for a more secure and prosperous future for the nation’s agricultural sector.