The Federal Government has successfully obtained a $134 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to enhance agricultural production, focusing on the seeds and grains sector.
The announcement was made by Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, during the launch of the 2024/2025 National Dry Season Farming initiative in Calabar, where he underscored the loan’s role in sustaining agricultural growth.
According to Eremah Anthonia, Chief Information Officer at the ministry, the loan will empower farmers nationwide to boost output in key staple crops.
Kyari noted that this loan is part of the National Agricultural Growth Support Scheme – Agro Pocket Project, designed to strengthen Nigerian farmers’ capacity to meet rising food demands.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to food security, he shared progress on the 2023/2024 dry season program, which has supported over 340,000 farmers in cultivating wheat, rice, maize, and other staple crops.
Cross River State, a key wheat-producing area, will see more than 3,000 wheat farmers benefiting from this facility, according to Kyari.
The initiative also aims to support 250,000 wheat farmers with an output target of 750,000 metric tons, and 150,000 rice farmers for an estimated 450,000 metric tons of rice across Nigeria’s 37 states.
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River, represented by Deputy Governor Peter Odey, affirmed the state’s commitment to the project, emphasising the positive impact on national grain production.
The National Project Coordinator, Buba Ishaku, added that the initiative will provide farmers with quality seeds to significantly increase crop yields nationwide.
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