The federal government has written to the leaders of all 36 state governments as well as the federal capital territory requesting that they make land available for dry-season cultivation In an effort to address nationwide food shortages.
The Punch reported that the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, revealed this on Monday during a briefing to mark the 2023 World Food Day.
He said that the start of the dry season farming would be with key crops like wheat, rice, maize, and cassava.
“We have written to all states regarding the issue of dry season farming, All 36 state governors as well as the federal capital territory have received letters from us asking whether they have land available for cultivation during the dry season,” he said.
He claimed that as a matter of fact, he had just returned from Jigawa State, where he had examined some of the areas being readied for the start of the dry season wheat cultivation there in a month.
“Several states would adopt the plan, the minister said, adding that “Ogun State has already expressed interest and we will go and see their fields too. Thus, it won’t just happen in Jigawa; it will also happen in other states.”
Kyari said the theme for this year’s World Food Day – ‘Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind’, had highlighted the core objective of the annual event “and brings to mind the need to heighten public awareness and action to improve our food systems and alleviate hunger.”
