Nigeria: Agric Secretariat Set to Cut Foodstuff Prices in Abuja

Chief Audu Ogbeh

The FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat has said it is working hard to boost food production and reduce prices of foodstuffs in the territory.

The Acting Secretary of the secretariat, Dr. Musa Aliyu, who stated this in Abuja while fielding questions from journalists at the weekend, revealed that the FCT Administration had earmarked 274,000 hectares of land for agricultural development.

He called on all interested farmers in the territory to take advantage of the expanse of land provided by government to cue into the Central Bank's Anchor Borrowers' Scheme to better their lives.

He added that the secretariat's partnership with the Leventis Foundation to develop the capacities of youth in agriculture would also be given priority attention.

 

The acting secretary also said the secretariat would embark on the rehabilitation of facilities at the Integrated Agricultural Development and Training Centre in Yaba, Abaji.

He assured that the women in agriculture programme would equally receive a boost this year, adding that it would build economic capacity of the female folk and liberate many of them from the yoke of poverty.

"The agriculture secretariat has put in place an implementation committee to mobilize farmers to participate in the Anchor Borrowers Scheme, which is targeted at small-holder farmers who are into rice and soya beans production.

"The FCT enjoys comparative advantage in the production of the two crops," he said.