FG AIMS TO BOOST FOOD SECURITY WITH ENHANCED NAGS

Chief Wale Edun 
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy 

"The scheme will provide essential inputs, machinery, and financial support to 200,000 farmers during the wet season and 50,000 during the dry season, focusing on key crops such as rice, maize, cassava, and sorghum." Wale Edun.

The Nigerian Government has accelerated the implementation of the enhanced National Agricultural Growth Scheme NAGS, as part of its commitment to ensuring food security, promoting economic growth, and improving the lives of Nigerian farmers and citizens.

With this bold initiative, Nigeria is poised to become a leader in agricultural development and a model for sustainable food systems in Africa.

In actualizing this, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, today presided over a high-level meeting in his office in Abuja, on the operationalisation of the enhanced  (NAGS).

Chief Edun, while affirming President Bola Tinubu's commitment to macroeconomic stability and agricultural transformation, highlighted Nigeria's 3.84% economic growth, rising foreign reserves, and a stabilised exchange rate as positive indicators. He emphasised the need for efficient financing, mechanisation, and strategic commodity storage to enhance productivity and ensure price stability.

With funding support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and a newly signed Mechanisation and Commercialisation Programme with Brazil, the scheme will provide essential inputs, machinery, and financial support to 200,000 farmers during the wet season and 50,000 during the dry season, focusing on key crops such as rice, maize, cassava, and sorghum.

The Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Mr. Cornelius O. Adebayo underscored the significance of a coordinated approach to agricultural development. 

"This initiative integrates key ecosystem players to address commodity pricing, harvest losses, and productivity challenges, ensuring long-term food security and national reserves," he stated.

The meeting also tackled challenges conclusion logistical huddles in food distribution, with renewed government efforts to strengthen supply chains and bolster strategic food reserves 

This is contained in a statement issued and signed by Mohammed Manga, Director of Information and Public Relations Department of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja.