The Federal Government on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s Strategic Food Reserve as part of efforts to enhance food security, stabilise market prices, and improve financial liquidity within the agricultural sector.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this during a working tour of agricultural facilities in Kaduna alongside the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Aliyu, and other stakeholders. The visit took place on the sidelines of the 47th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security.
Senator Kyari explained that the initiative would empower farmers to engage in all-year-round production, particularly during the dry season, thereby sustaining food supply across the country.
Responding to farmers’ concerns about the recent decline in food prices despite rising input costs, the minister assured them that the Federal Government was already taking steps to address the issue.
“Though farmers are worried about the fall in food prices, they also benefit as consumers from lower market rates. The real challenge lies in the high cost of inputs, and President Bola Tinubu’s administration is working to correct this imbalance,” he said. “Very soon, we will replenish the strategic food reserves to inject financial liquidity into the agricultural sector, enabling farmers to sustain year-round production.”
Assessing the performance of the factories visited, Senator Kyari expressed satisfaction with the level of engagement by farmers and processors in food production and raw material processing. He commended their efforts in aligning with President Tinubu’s call for greater food security and sovereignty.
“It is evident from what we have seen in the field that the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President is taking shape,” the minister stated.
