In a recent presentation during the ministerial sectoral update marking President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, revealed that the ministry has successfully trained and empowered over 20,755 farmers in agribusiness across Nigeria.
The initiative, which targeted women and youth among its beneficiaries, also saw the training of 3,350 extension agents to enhance agricultural development projects and improve extension services throughout the country.
To further support agricultural practices, the ministry established demonstration plots aimed at spreading knowledge about good agricultural practices.
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Sen. Kyari highlighted that the ministry’s efforts align with the President’s 8-point Agenda, which includes a collaboration with states, local governments, and the private sector to expand farmland for key staple foods, leveraging competitive and comparative advantages.
Other key goals involve youth and women empowerment programs, rural transformation initiatives, and the provision of essential infrastructure to foster rural development.
Additionally, the ministry has developed and released 23 improved crop varieties through national agricultural research institutes, improved storage facilities, and fabricated various farming machinery such as planters, ploughs, and harvesters.
To attract youth to agriculture, the ministry established adopted villages and schools, introduced vocational training in federal colleges of agriculture, and implemented various agribusiness programs. These efforts include capacity building across the value chain and the provision of start-up kits to promote self-employment among the youth and women in agribusiness.
Sen. Kyari emphasized that these comprehensive initiatives underscore the ministry’s commitment to transforming the agricultural sector and enhancing food security in Nigeria.
