The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, has disclosed that the federal government, through his ministry, will leave no stone unturned to ensure Nigeria ranks as Africa’s largest wheat producer and exporter.
Abubakar made this known in Abuja during his address at the Stakeholders Validation Workshop of the National Wheat Strategy Document for Self-sufficiency in Nigeria, saying if Sudan and Ethiopia can improve their production of wheat, Nigeria can achieve more and export more to the rest of the world.
The minister noted that the draft national strategy document was developed as a policy framework for direction, adding that with a growing population and consumption rate for wheat and wheat products in Nigeria, the country has no option but to boost its own productivity and production to meet national demand.
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The minister noted that the draft national strategy document was developed as a policy framework for direction, adding that Nigeria has no option but to boost its own production to meet national demand due to its growing population and consumption rate for wheat and wheat products.
“Indeed, the success of the rice revolution through the National Strategy Document has transformed the rice industry in Nigeria. It is my firm belief that the replication of this same thing with the wheat industry is not beyond the reach of Nigeria.
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The team lead for the Strategic Stakeholders Validation Document Production, Dr Oluwasina Olabanji, lamented that the country is not only spending money to import wheat but also importing joblessness, poverty, among other things that must stop.
The National President of the Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria, WFAN, Salim Muhammad, while appreciating the government for the policy, disclosed that the association has over 2 million registered farmers that have cultivated over 60,000 hectares nationwide.
