Nigerian Lawmakers Meet Agric Minister On Way Out Of Food Crisis

The National Assembly through its joint Committee on Agriculture Production Services and Rural Development, on Tuesday, met with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari and his Minister of State, Sabi Abdullahi, on urgent solution to food inflation bedevilling the country.

This was just as it emerged that a six-year $500 million food security programme supported by the World Bank and the federal government has been designed for the people of Kwara State.

The Joint Committee Chaired by Senator Saliu Mustapha (APC Kwara Central), at the meeting with the ministers interrogated him on plans being put in place to arrest the high cost of food prices in the country and making it affordable and available to the poor masses.

Kyari said the federal government has the commenced distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains to some focal points of state capitals nationwide.

“We have received directive and approval from Mr. President to distribute for immediate impact 42,000 metric tons of assorted grains free of charge to the Nigerian population.

“This was received mid-February, as we are speaking, we have a record of the distribution being carried out, but I will want to plead with the honourable House and distinguished Senators that some of the movements can’t be made public, but a lot of states have started receiving their grains.

“We are distributing to State capitals in the first instance as you all are aware the risk involved in the vandalization of foodstuff, so we are working with the office of the National Security Adviser and other national security agencies.

“Furthermore, 58,500 metric tons of milled rice from mega rice millers will also be released into the market for stabilisation,” he said.

He explained further that actions being taken became necessary in other to cushion impacts of hardship on Nigerians which he said would soon become a thing of the past.

For security purposes, he informed the committee members that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was currently working with the Office of the National Security Adviser, and other national security outfits to address issues on vandalization  food warehouses across the country.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the interactive session, the Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Saliu Mustapha, expressed satisfaction with the steps being taken by the federal government.

He said, “From our interactive session, we on the other side of the parliament, we are fully in the picture of what is happening, we are convinced that the steps being taken by the federal government is in the right direction.

“All we did again is to further emphasise the need for certain things to be done on time, I think from this collaborative approach by the grace of God, Nigerians will have a better feel of the government policy on food security.”

Meanwhile, a six-year new $500 million food security programme supported by the World Bank and the federal government has been designed for the people of Kwara State.

The new agriculture project would be Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) and would provide platforms for livestock value chain production and commercialisation in the state.

Speaking at the flag- off of the programme in Ilorin on Tuesday, the State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said that, “the present administration has invested in the development of the livestock sector to maximise its potential, particularly in beef and dairy production.”

He said, “Kwara has a comparative advantage in all areas of livestock production, particularly in beef and dairy production.

“It serves as forms of income and wealth for families to better access financial services. It is a major form of financial instrument to families, especially now that we are talking about financial inclusion, improvement in standard of living, and improving our GDP in the state.

“This is why our focus has been on developing, upgrading, and transforming the economy in terms of livestock development. This has had positive impacts on smallholder farmers while also reducing farmer-herder conflict in the state.”

He added, “We aim to ensure that the smallholder farmers become commercial farmers so that they can respond to demand for quality food from the urban centres, climate change, contribution to global economy and also ensure that families have adequate supply of animal protein and improved livelihood.

“For these reasons, our administration keyed into programmes like the special agro processing zone and livestock productivity and resilience support project that we are flagging off today.

“Indeed, the utmost objective is in line with our administration’s vision of uplifting the vulnerable, improving the activities of smallholder farmers, providing critical infrastructure for modern livestock production and also mitigating the clash between pastoralists and crop farmers.”

AbdulRazaq called for an improved coordination and synergy for the design and implementation of SAP-Z and L-PRES, given the similarities of the projects.

“We should also work alongside RAAMP (Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project) to make sure we deliver. We will strive to engage more progressively to make sure we deliver this project on time,” he added.

Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Adebayo, said  Kwara has hit positive milestones in the project because of the commitment of the Governor, adding: “It is not every state that has the privilege of high profile projects like PRESS and SAPZ, but due to the visionary leadership of His Excellency and the processes and policies that he has put in place, we are able to qualify and meet the very stringent requirements of these developmental projects.”

The L-PRES National Project Coordinator, Mr.  Sanusi Abubakar in his remarks, said they were excited at the enthusiasm so far shown by Governor   AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to revamp and provide platforms for upgrading and modernisation of livestock value chain in the state.

“The objectives of L-PRES development objective are to improve productivity, commercialisation, and resilience of targeted livestock value chain in Nigeria as well as strengthen the resilience of livelihood affected by farmers-herders’ conflict,” he added.

Sunday Aborisade and Hammed Shittu

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