States participating in the Federal Government’s 500,000-hectare farming project will farm crops that will yield them the most competitive advantage, the Presidency stated on Friday.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Temitope Ajayi, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH, said the programme would enlist farmers in mostly northern states where agricultural activities were predominant.
“We have 120,000 hectares for dry season farming for wheat in Jigawa. So, each state will participate.
“States are known for different crops. Most would be in the northern states largely because more farming activities happen there than in the southern states,” he said.
On July 13, 2023, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security as the Federal Government stepped up efforts to tackle food inflation following the removal of fuel subsidy.
Tinubu also directed that all matters pertaining to food and water availability as well as affordability, as essential livelihood items, be included within the purview of the National Security Council.
This was to be followed by an immediate release of fertilisers and grains to farmers and households to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal.
In his New Year address to the nation on January 1, Tinubu promised to boost food security in the in 2024.
He reiterated that the government would cultivate about 500,000 hectares of farmlands to combat hunger nationwide.
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