Writing By Daniel Karlmax, Editing By Godwin Duru
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with agro-processing companies and empowering small holder farmers to enhance food security and drive socioe-conomic growth and development across the country.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, stated this during a one-day tour of Olam Farms and other agro-industrial processing facilities in Kaduna, on the sidelines of the ongoing Forty seventh Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS).
Senator Kyari said the programme, themed “Food Sovereignty and Security in an Era of Renewed Hope,” aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to ensure value addition to agricultural produce, enhance profitability, and attract greater investment into the sector.
He emphasized that agro-industrial processing along the value chain holds immense potential for driving economic growth, achieving self-sufficiency, and ensuring sustainability.
“I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen throughout the day. We’ve been to places where there’s crop production, and here at Olam, we’ve seen large-scale processing. We also visited TMDK and the quality assurance lab, which provides Nigerian produce with a seal of approval for both domestic and foreign markets,” the Minister said.
Kyari commended the growing interest of farmers and processors in agricultural production, noting that they have heeded the President’s clarion call on food sovereignty and security.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government will soon provide financial support to the agricultural sector to enable farmers to engage in year-round farming, boost production, and mitigate food and nutrition shortages.
“There’s no doubt that there are challenges, but by and large, we’ve witnessed tremendous success. Interest in agriculture has grown significantly, especially among women and youth. We met a young woman running a small rice mill with out-growers and women farmers — a clear indication of rising participation in agriculture,” Kyari added.
On food inflation, the Minister assured that President Tinubu remains committed to balancing the welfare of citizens with that of farmers.
He said efforts are underway to reduce the cost of farm inputs and strengthen farmers’ capacity for increased productivity.
The minister further revealed that the government’s economic management team is addressing border security to curb the smuggling and importation of cheap agricultural goods, while formulating policies to safeguard citizens and support local farmers.
Speaking during the tour, the Managing Director, Integrated Feed and Protein at Olam Agri, in Kaduna, Mr. Amit Agarwal, said the company which produces both fish and poultry feeds among others, partners with government and non-governmental organizations to transform food, feed, and fibre production.
He noted that Olam is committed to meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on food security and improved livelihoods by promoting sustainable protein sufficiency and empowering local livestock farmers.
Shortly after the tour, the Commissioner of Agriculture in the state, Murtala Dabo said the state under the last two years has embarked on several interventions to include access to inputs such as fertilizer, and mechanization among others to boost small holder Farmers toward food security and nutrition.
The agro-processing facilities visited by the Minister included Rice Processing Mills in Kamazou, a Quality Assurance Laboratory, Olam Farms along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway, TMDK, and Tomato Jos along the Zaria–Jos Highway in Kaduna State.
Daniel Karlmax
