The Federal Government is stepping up efforts to increase sustainable crop yields by focusing on climate-resilient and disease-tolerant crops that can withstand pests, diseases, and extreme weather. Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, outlined these commitments at the 47th National Council on Agricultural and Food Security meeting in Kaduna, themed “Food Sovereignty and Food Security in an Era of Renewed Hope.”
Key government initiatives include recapitalizing the Bank of Agriculture, launching the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, and promoting all-year-round farming on 500,000 hectares through the Dry Season Initiative. The government is enhancing access to affordable farm inputs, gender-responsive extension services, credit facilities, and climate-smart farming training.
Abdullahi also highlighted the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform aimed at financial inclusion and agricultural transformation. Nigeria aims to reduce import dependence, strengthen market confidence, and become the sub-region’s leading food supplier by maximizing production of staple crops like maize, wheat, cassava, yam, and cowpeas.
The minister stressed prioritizing climate-smart agriculture to increase yields sustainably while addressing adaptation and mitigation across crop, livestock, and fisheries sectors.
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