By Peter Adelowo
The Federal Government says the massive investment made in wheat farming will make Nigeria self-sufficient in the cereal.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, stated this while briefing State House correspondents on the progress made so far in Abuja.
He said wheat farmers had given the assurance that they were expecting bumper harvest between March and April this year due to the support they got from the Federal Government.
“We have a lot of expectations this year because the farmers have expressed desires to go into wheat more than ever before, simply because of the attraction and the profit”, he said.
The Minister explained that the Federal Government made a significant intervention in the Phase One of Dry Season Wheat Production of last year, which ended towards the end of December.
Senator Kyari said the farmers were provided with 75 percent subsidy on wheat seeds, explaining that the farmers paid only 25 percent of the amount, but that the government’s subsidy on fertiliser was 50 percent.
The Minister further explained that during the period, about 300,000 farmers were given support to cultivate 150,000 hectares, with each of them cultivating half a hectare.
He expressed delight that Cross River had also become a wheat-producing State, the first time a southern State is joining 15 northern wheat producing States.
Senator Kyari said the Federal Government also had a plan to try a pilot scheme in wet season wheat cultivation in highland areas that were temperate, colder, citing Taraba, Plateau, and Cross River States.
