Wheat Importation Gulping Nigeria’s Foreign Reserves – FG

The Federal Government on Friday, said the importation of wheat was gulping the country’s foreign reserves, adding that it is making efforts to end the importation of wheat seeds in the next four to five years.

The FG also said it was giving out 50 per cent subsidy to wheat farmers in the upcoming dry season farming to ensure massive production of the grain in the country.

The Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, made this known while speaking with journalists after inspecting assorted seed wheat productions in Kano.

The Minister expressed satisfaction that local production was a vital component of farming.

He stated, “We are fully committed towards massive wheat production in the upcoming dry seasons farming for local and foreign export actions.

“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.

“The breeder and foundation seeds were checked before it became satisfied to phase out wheat importation before next year’s irrigation farming. This is because importation of wheat is taking a lot of Nigeria’s foreign reserves.

“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.”