The federal government on Saturday inaugurated the National Wheat Cultivation scheme in Auyo Local Government Area of Jigawa, targeting 1,250,000 tonnes of yields.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, at the inauguration of the 2023 dry season wheat development project under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme (NAGS-AP) in Auyo.
The scheme is designed to cultivate about 100,000 hectares during the dry season, and Jigawa is supporting the project with 40,000 hectares.
The minister said dry season farming had offered a unique opportunity to harness the untapped potential of land and diversify Nigeria’s food production capabilities.
Mr Kyari said the aim was to increase crop yield by at least 20 per cent compared to the previous year.
He said that in wheat alone, they had targeted to support between 150,000 and 250,000 farmers with a 50 per cent input subsidy.
Mr Kyari said the farmers were expected to cultivate between 200,000 and 250,000 hectares with an expected yield of 1,250,000 tonnes.
He said the federal government was committed to ensuring that the support got to the farmers to achieve the desired goals.
“Accordingly, the programme will be technology-enabled, thus guaranteeing transparency and accountability in the provision of the subsidy and other support services like extension, insurance and additional finance.
“Equally, our farmers are guaranteed access to improved seeds – in this particular instance, I would like to point out that we are deploying heat-tolerant wheat varieties like Borlaug 100, Attila and others,” said the minister.
Earlier, Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa said the state was the heart of wheat production in Nigeria, with the potential to provide up to 200,000 hectares for wheat production.
“It is not surprising, therefore, when 40 per cent of the land to be put under cultivation in this year’s Federal Government supported pilot wheat development programme comes from Jigawa State – 40,000 out 100,000 hectares being targeted,” he said.
(NAN)
