FG, State Government shows more concern on wheat importation

accelerated wheat production

The 4.2 billion dollars wheat importation seems to have evidently becomes a thing of economic concerns to both the Federal and some producing states government based on political will concern exhibited yesterday at Alkamawa village, Kano State where PMB and the two Excellencies of Kebbi, Sen Abubabar Atiku Bagudu and Kano, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje physically showed their presence to affiliate with the economic reality of backward integration of this national strategic crop to ensuring food security in Nigeria and sub Sahara African country.


 The turnout was quite impressive especially a day like Saturday with also the presence of Chief Audu Ogbeh, who was wearing two caps as representing PMB, and his ministry as minister. The National Assembly Senate Committee chairman, Agriculture, Sen Abudullahi Adamu and his two counterparts at the lower house, Hon Mongunu ably represented by Hon. Munir Babba and Hon. Linus Okoire, chairman, Research Institute and Colleges of Agriculture were also present.

 

 The financial commitment on the part of government shows there could be a light at the end of the twilight as accelerated wheat production is promised to be well supported to the tune of ensuring 1million metric tons in less than one year to reduce import by 20% as the total production requirement is about 4 million metric tons meaning we are presently having deficits of 3.7million metric ton while our present production level is less than three hundred metric tons. Exciting is the readiness of Flour Millers Association of Nigeria (FMAN) to off take the wheat production from farmers for further processing into flour thereby giving a sight of great relief to marketing challenges. 

The association through its Chairman , Mr. G. Coumantaros said that " FMAN wishes to reiterate its commitment to supporting the local production of wheat. A practical demonstration of that commitment is our ongoing pledge to offtake all the wheat produced in Nigeria. In view of this we are actively working with the Wheat Association of Nigeria (WFAN), the state government of wheat producing states, as well as Central Bank of Nigeria to agree on the modalities for the offtake. 

 

Also we have pledged to support the WFAN through the provision of combine harvesters to improve efficiency and further reduce cost of produce. Farmers believed that if this millers' position are effectively executed, there would be a great revolution in its production to meet the deficits. 

The Governor of Kebbi State, Sen Abubakar Atiku Bagudu however emphasized on the timely continues improved seeds availability to farmers, a view noted by the minister of Agriculture who promised that positive action would be taken to alleviate the challenge. Many stakeholders were delighted as the Executives Directors of both Lake Chad Research Institute, Dr. Gbenga Olabanji and Institute for Agricultural Research, Zaria Prof. I. U Abubakar took them round the farmers' cultivation field.