The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to stabilising Nigeria’s food supply and revitalising the agricultural sector through a combination of emergency interventions and long-term structural reforms.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, gave the assurance during the distribution of farm inputs to farmers in Cross River State, saying the administration is responding decisively to rising food prices and production challenges facing farmers nationwide.
Represented at the event by the ministry’s Director of Agribusiness and Market Development, Mr Bassey Iwara, the minister said targeted humanitarian measures and emergency agricultural support are already helping to ease food shortages, while broader reforms are being implemented to strengthen the sector sustainably.
According to Kyari, the government’s strategy is focused on boosting agricultural productivity, expanding employment opportunities and reducing the cost of living, particularly for vulnerable households.
“Several programmes and projects have been introduced to address persistent challenges confronting farmers, with special attention given to making food more available, accessible and affordable,” the minister said.
He noted that collaboration with non-governmental organisations and the private sector remains a key pillar of the government’s approach, aimed at improving efficiency across agricultural value chains and enhancing farmers’ access to markets, finance and modern inputs.
As part of the short-term measures, Kyari said the ministry is providing essential farm inputs and equipment at subsidised rates, with a strong focus on small-scale farmers who have been hardest hit by rising input costs and market volatility.
Also speaking at the event, Mr Ekori Nsan, State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, said the intervention is designed to reach farmers at all levels of production. He cautioned beneficiaries against misusing or reselling the distributed items, stressing that monitoring mechanisms have been put in place to ensure accountability and effective utilisation.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Asuquo Asuquo, described the support as timely, noting that it would help farmers sustain production despite escalating costs of seeds, fertilisers and other inputs.
“This intervention gives us encouragement to continue farming at a time when many are struggling,” he said.
The distribution exercise forms part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to cushion the impact of economic pressures on food production while laying the groundwork for a more resilient and food-secure agricultural sector.
