The National Economic Council, or NEC, met on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, under the direction of the Vice President. The main topics of discussion was the current food crisis in the nation and how Nigerians could be saved from it.
Beyond this, the need to provide free fertilisers to the nation’s farmers in order to motivate them to produce large amounts of food was the subject of much discussion throughout the conference.
NEC also examined plans to bring in 2000 tractors to aid farmers in increasing their output. These programmes are being launched at a time when Nigerians are suffering from a high rate of inflation, particularly with regard to staple goods.
Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, reported that he gave the Economic Council an update on the country’s food security plans.
As to his statement, the unit comprises ministers and governors, one from each geographic zone. Its purpose is to facilitate cooperation between the federal and subnational levels to implement the President’s policy on food security.
“I also briefed the Council on the interventions regarding the 42,000 metric tonnes of rice that had been delivered to all states, followed by 20 trailers of rice per state, in my capacity as Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.” Additionally, we have discharged more than 1,500,000 bags of fertiliser that the state governments are evacuating
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He continued, saying: “I then proceeded to update the Council on the mechanisation initiatives carried out by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Now that four are in place. First, the $1 billion, ten-year Greener Hope consortium, headed by Origin Group, will establish 1000 tractor-wielding agro-sector service providers nationwide as part of the Greener Hope Agricultural Reform.
“For the next five years, we will have at least 2000 tractors annually, and all other agricultural goods will be used by no fewer than 600,000 adolescents to staff these 1000 service stations. The complex strategy will be implemented as soon as it becomes possible. I informed NEC on that specific initiative, which was approved by the FEC on June 25, which was just two days ago.
The other is the John Deere Tata agreement, for which we anticipate receiving 2000 tractors by year’s end. Then there is the 950 million euro Greener Imperative Project, which is now under development and scheduled for unveiling shortly. Finally, the last and final one is Belarus Tractors, which aims to supply 2000 tractors annually for the following five years together with 9,000 tools and spare parts, 50 service trucks, and maintenance facilities. We also have ten harvesters with a combined 150 horsepower at the same time.
“We inspected the supply line when I recently visited the factory and returned about two weeks ago. We are expected to have begun delivering those tractors and combine harvesters within the next sixty days.”
