The Federal Government has taken a significant step towards enhancing national food security by securing a $134 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Consequently, Nigeria’s government is bolstering food security through dry season farming, actively supporting farmers with the $134 million loan facility.
Anthonia Eremah, Chief Spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, spoke at the 2024/2025 National Dry Season Farming programme launch in Calabar, Cross River State.
The $134 million African Development Bank loan will aid in expanding seed and grain supplies for 150,000 to 250,000 farmers nationwide.
Furthermore, the initiative aims to mitigate food scarcity by supporting farmers through the re-introduced National Agricultural Growth Support Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) Project.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture noted that this project represents a crucial step towards ensuring stable food production across the country. AfDB’s loan will support 150,000 rice farmers across 37 states and the FCT, yielding 450,000 metric tonnes of rice.
Notably, Nigeria’s government prioritizes dry season farming to ensure sustainable food production and security amid agricultural output and price concerns.
AfDB’s financial backing enables Nigeria to boost agricultural output, driving rural development and economic stability.
