FG plans 4yr new policy for food security, says Minister

 

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mohmood Abubakar has unveiled the new plan towards actualizing food security within four years of technologies driven agriculture to confront climate change and other challenges.

Dr. Abubakar said this during the press briefing held last week at the minister's conference room to mark 2021 World Food Day Celebration in Abuja.

The Minister said the new agricultural policy tagged National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) is expected to be effective between 2021 – 2025, adding it would help to achieving food security in view of the climate change,  2020 covid-19 pandemic, and other insecurity challenges.

He pointed as part of effort to boost food production, the ministry has partnered the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative to ensure adequate domestic production and marketing of NPK at affordable price to farmers.

Minister mentioned that National Policy on Agricultural Extension of Nigeria and the Policy Implementation Strategy (PIS) has also been developed awaiting presentation to the National Economic Council, Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly for approval and legislation.

 He added "when approved, the policy will help to improve agricultural extension services in the country and help increase better production and better environment"

Dr. Abubakar pointed that FG has been able to lift  a total of 4,205,576 Nigerians out of poverty in the last two years,  saying this had been possible through the strategic policies and programmes of the FMARD, and by extension the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020 of the President Muhammadu Buhari's government.

He stressed that the ERGP is envisaged to achieve investment in agriculture towards guaranteeing food security and job creations as foreign exchange on import bill are being mitigated.