There are plans to distribute about 7,500 improved wheat seeds to farmers in 12 northern states, the Federal Government has said.
This, it said, was aimed at decreasing wheat importation into Nigeria by at least by 50 per cent, a development which would help the country to save about N318bn annually.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, outlined the selected areas as Ngala and Kirnowa in Borno state; Gembu and Ngoroje in Taraba; Dasin Hausa in Adamawa; and Badel Jama’are and Misau in Bauchi.
Others are Hadejia, Chiyeko and Ringim in Jigawa; Tahoss in Plateau; Kadawa, Bunkure, Alkamawa and Bagwai in Kano; Kebbi, Sokoto, Talata Mafara in Zamfara; Gashuain in Yobe as well as Balanga and Dadinkowa in Gombe State.
He said the government was working hard to expand the country’s wheat value chain, adding that it would cover a minimum of 33,000 hectars in each of the wheat producing states.
Adesina, who was represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Akinbolawa Osho, spoke at a training programme in Abuja.
The programme was centred on Innovation Systems Approach, as well as Support for Agricultural Research and Development for Strategic Crops.
He said, “We want to increase national wheat production by 95 per cent resulting in import reduction through technology interventions across the value chain with improved varieties, value addition and yield enhancing management practices.
“This will be directed at stimulating 30 per cent yield increase and 70 per cent income among 55,000 wheat farmers’ households.”
The Executive Secretary, Lake Chad Research Institute, Dr. Oluwasina Olabanji, said the purpose of the training programme was to strengthen capacity of stakeholders in the wheat value chain.
Punch Nigeria
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