The Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari has said that the efforts being made by the Federal Government would end the importation of wheat seeds in the next four to five years.
Kyari made the announcement on Friday after inspecting assorted seed wheat productions in Kano.
He said that the importation of wheat seeds was gulping the country’s foreign reserves, and that the government was committed to becoming self-sufficient in wheat production.
“We are fully committed towards massive wheat production in the upcoming dry seasons farming for local and foreign export actions,” Kyari said.
He added that the government was giving out a 50 per cent subsidy to wheat farmers in the upcoming dry season farming to ensure massive production of the grain in the country.
“Jigawa State has shown a lot of interest in wheat farming by providing 40,000 hectares of land for wheat farming, closing on the 70,000 hectares set aside by the Federal Government to achieve this year,” Kyari said.
He added that the government was satisfied with the quality of the local wheat seeds being produced, and that it was confident that Nigeria would be able to stop importing wheat seeds within the next four to five years.
“In the next four to five years, with the programmes set out, Nigeria will completely stop importation of wheat seeds and be self-sufficient, which would enhance food production and security,” Kyari said.
