By Abdullahi Lukman
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to increasing crop yields sustainably by developing climate-resilient and disease-tolerant crops capable of withstanding pests, diseases, and extreme weather.
Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture, made the remarks at the opening of the 47th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agricultural and Food Security (NCAFS) in Kaduna, themed “Food Sovereignty and Food Security in an Era of Renewed Hope.”
Abdullahi highlighted key government initiatives, including the recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, and the Dry Season Initiative targeting all-year-round farming on 500,000 hectares.
He also noted efforts to make farm inputs more accessible, enhance gender-responsive extension services, improve credit access, and provide training in climate-smart farming and mechanisation.
The minister outlined the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a seven-pillar framework aimed at strengthening cooperatives for financial inclusion and agricultural growth.
He emphasized Nigeria’s potential to transform food production, reduce import dependence, revive agribusiness, and become a leading food supplier in West Africa.
Abdullahi said the meeting would propose strategies to tackle hunger, malnutrition, and poverty while advancing national food and nutrition security, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He stressed the importance of reaching the full production potential of staple crops, including maize, wheat, sorghum, millet, soybean, cassava, yam, cowpeas, and potatoes, through climate-smart agriculture that enhances both productivity and environmental resilience.
