By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – THE Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari, Friday, disclosed the National Agricultural Insurance Corporation, NAIC, had supported 199,275 farmers with N700 billion risk cover in two years.

Kyari stated this at the 2026 Ministerial Stakeholders Engagement Retreat on Agricultural Transformation with the theme ‘Quarterly Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement Session’, which had in attendance the media, Civil Society Organizations, farmers’ groups, agro-allied groups, relevant professional bodies, development partners, donor agencies, respect ministries, departments and agencies, and general public.

According to him, the in the last two years, the Federal Government has boosted agricultural productivity and food security through various initiatives. Key achievements include the distribution of over 1.9 million bags of fertilizers to nearly 1 million farmers, promoting sustainable soil management with 12,000 liters of organic fertilizers, and strengthening regulatory frameworks.

Speaking on conducive environment for agribusinesses, he maintained that within two years the Ministry had constructed modern markets, establishment of 10 large scale integrated processing plants across the six geopolitical zones, and setting up of seven composite flour compact milling factories in various states.

He said: “In the last two years, the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation has supported 199,275 farmers with N700 billion risk cover, generating N2.43 billion premium income, and paid N200 million claims, boosting farmers resilience.”

He also revealed that, “The Federal Government has granted a N250 billion facility to the Bank of Agriculture, BoA, to support smallholder farmers in Nigeria, providing them with access to credit at a single-digit interest rate.

“The goal is to boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and empower farmers with modern equipment and inputs. Specifically, the facility will support food production, enhance mechanization and improve livelihoods.”

He further stated that the National Agricultural Development Fund, NADF, had revived the ginger industry, which it had baseline studies to identify research gaps, and feasibility assessments for irrigation projects, such as the Sabke site in Katsina State.

“The Fund has also supported various agricultural value chains through on-lending initiatives and intervened to support flood-affected farmers in several states, demonstrating its commitment to enhancing food security and farmer resilience”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister, made it known that the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) is driving transformative change in the country’s agricultural sector, which is boosting food security, promoting agro-industrial growth, and improving livelihoods including “the distribution of 40 million cocoa seedlings by the Council is set to revitalize the country’s cocoa industry, supporting long-term plantation development and export growth”, as well as the release of 65 improved crop varieties with enhanced yields, climate resilience, and nutritional profiles as a game-changer for Nigerian farmers.

He also disclosed that the Federal Executive Council, FEC, has approved establishment of tractor assembly plant in Nigeria to boost agricultural mechanization food production.

He emphasized that the recent boost to mechanized agriculture with the official launching of 2000 tractors along with agricultural equipment under the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanization Programme will soon upscale food production and availability.

According to the Minister, in the last two years, the Federal Government has boosted agricultural productivity and food security through various initiatives including the distribution of over 1.9 million bags of fertilizers to nearly 1 million farmers, promoting sustainable soil management with 12,000 liters of organic fertilizers, and strengthening regulatory frameworks.

“We have made notable collaborations and partnerships with Russia, Turkiye, India, and Canada to enhance fertilizer production and technology transfer.

“Additionally, 109 fertilizer inspectors were trained and equipped, and over 329 industry stakeholders were trained on regulatory compliance.

“Efforts have been made to curb fake fertilizers from our markets through persecution of offenders. We have constructed a National Reference Laboratory and upgraded the National Fertilizer Management Platform to enhance fertilizer quality control, ensure regulatory compliance, and promote transparency in the fertilizer supply chain.

“Over 3,500 farmers were trained on organic fertilizers and soil management, promoting sustainable agriculture practices”, he added.

Meanwhile, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, Mohammed Magaji, appealed to the government to mob up excess grains as farmers are running at loss.

Also, Magaji called on the government to promptly release agric budget, because agriculture is time-bound, and any delay would affect farmers’ productivity.

Meanwhile, other stakeholders called on the government to address issues on post-harvest losses, mechanization, access to land, subsidy for food production, insecurity on farms, among others