Covid-19: President orders mitigation actions on 2020 planting season

As the economic lock down has been extended for another 14 days starting today, President Muhammudu Buhari has ordered the Presidential Taskforce on Corona virus to pally Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), National Food Security Council and Presidential Fertilizer Initiative  for effective food production for 2020.



 This instruction was among the contents read yesterday by President Muhammadu Buhari in his national broadcast.

By this directive, efforts are to be channelled towards ensuring that the impact of the pandemic corona virus on farming activities be lessened for food productivity.

Mr. President said that ‘’ I am also directing the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the National Security Adviser, the Vice Chairman, National Food Security Council and the Chairman, Presidential Fertiliser Initiative to work with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to ensure the impact of this pandemic on our 2020 farming season is minimized’’

Already poultry farmers and other agricultural produce have been given movement exception to ensure continuous foods production for availability, accessibility and affordability. 

The Presidential directive is to see that food production in the country is not compromised towards the 2020 farming season, thereby enjoining key stakeholders to come together to ensure that the country is food secured while solutions are also proffered to curb the virus.

Stakeholders in the sector have applauded the President’s directives, saying it was the right thing to do in a hard time like this for food production to continue unhindered.