Federal Government Forms Committee to Improve Agriculture and Food Security

The federal government is taking steps to improve food security. They have set up a committee to speed up the development of livestock and key crops across the country.

This committee will focus on key actions in the agricultural sector. They will concentrate on producing wheat and other important crops, as well as developing livestock.

Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the committee on Tuesday during a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. This meeting looked at how the agricultural sector is performing and what can be done to improve it.

Mr Shettima asked the committee members to share ideas and create a plan for implementing important actions in agriculture. This meeting followed a larger one with President Bola Tinubu last week, which included stakeholders from various sectors.

The committee includes representatives from several federal ministries. These are Agriculture and Food Security; Water Resources and Sanitation; Livestock Development; Finance Incorporated; and the Presidential Livestock Reform.

It also includes the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness, the Senior Special Assistant on Food Security, and the Senior Special Assistant on Livestock Development. Other members are CEOs from the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, National Agricultural Land Development Authority, and several other agricultural bodies.

Marion Moon, who is the Technical Adviser to the Vice President on Agriculture, will coordinate the committee. She also leads the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit.

Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, said the committee will tackle key issues facing farmers. They will also look into using available resources to improve wheat production and dry-season farming in Nigeria.

During the meeting with the president, the vice president was asked to identify challenges in the agricultural sector and find ways to solve them. Mr Kyari explained, "Mr President had always encouraged all-year-round farming. We’re looking at coordination among all sectors, including state and local governments, to help manage prices during famine."

He added, "This technical committee will have members from different agencies to work together and make decisions. Their report will go to another committee before it reaches the Vice President and then the President."

In her earlier presentation, Ms Moon pointed out that developing agriculture is a shared duty among the federal, state, and local governments. She noticed a lack of communication between these levels of government, saying the gaps must be closed.

"As we consider our priorities, it is crucial to ensure we align with what is happening at the state level," she said.