Nigerians Can Expect Bumper Harvest, Says Agric Minister

The Agric Minister tells Nigerians to expect a bumper harvest despite rising food inflation. Discover the details of this reassuring announcement.

Abubakar Kyari, who is the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, has stated that a generous crop yield can be anticipated in Nigeria by the end of this year.

According to statistics provided by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), food inflation has risen to 40%, making it nearly impossible for millions of Nigerians to afford basic necessities.

Kyari stated that the Federal Government has implemented strategies to tackle the issue, such as enhancing agricultural activities to augment food output.

Kyari announced on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics that the bumper harvest is anticipated for October-November of this year, with hopes high unless faced with any natural hiccups.

“I assure you that we will have a bountiful harvest,” he said.

He attributes the current acute food shortage in the country to seasonal factors, as per his statement.

The minister stated that the agriculture industry faces a crucial challenge with regards to the season, referred to as the lean season. This period falls between June-July and marks a gap before the next harvest.

In addition, Kyari attributed the scarcity of food to factors such as diminished land area, inundation, and additional concerns.

According to him, the reduction of land availability for agriculture due to flooding, habitation issues, insecurity and other reasons has resulted in an ageing farming population. Furthermore, younger individuals are not actively seeking careers in agriculture at present.

According to Kyari, the government is intensifying efforts towards mechanized farming by distributing fertilizers and making attempts to procure tractors for farmers.

According to the minister on the current affairs show, “It’s not like chewing gum where you can buy it off the shelf. We have placed an order for 200 tractors and 9,000 other implements during my visit to Belarus.”

Kyari stated that the conventional tool for farming in Nigeria is a hoe, which is outdated and old-fashioned. Consequently, mechanization has become necessary to address this issue.