Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief 

Determined to ramp up food production in order to effectively tackle the soaring food prices in the country, the federal government is to distribute high-yield seedlings for dry season cropping.

That was the high point of a top-level meeting of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun and top officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and Flour Mills of Nigeria, in Abuja, this afternoon. 

Mr. Mohammed Manga, Director of Information and Public Relations of the Ministry of Finance, in a statement, this evening quoted Mr. Edun as saying that the initiative was, “to revolutionize Nigeria’s Agricultural Sector in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration.” 

He said that the pivotal meeting with key stakeholders was to accelerate the implementation of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme – Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP).

 Top on the agenda was a discussion of strategies for driving immediate results.

The Minister emphasized the critical need for an efficient input system during the dry season, particularly stressing the importance of high-quality, adaptable seeds in achieving optimal yields.

The NAGS-AP team provided comprehensive updates on their day-to-day implementation strategies and presented a finalized work plan for the 2024/2025 dry season. 

The NAGS-AP initiative is designed to stimulate increased productivity and higher yields among farmers, ensuring a significant impact on food production and agricultural growth across the country.

The program is to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape and the meeting marked a significant step towards ensuring food security and economic growth in line with the policy thrust of the present administration.