The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that the country will soon overcome its current food shortage and high inflation rate, which has surged to 40 per cent, as per the National Bureau of Statistics.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, made this announcement on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
He stated that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has implemented strategies to tackle food inflation and boost production, with expectations of a significant harvest by year-end.
Kyari attributed the food shortage to several factors, including seasonal changes, reduced agricultural land, flooding, and other issues.
He emphasized, “We are anticipating a substantial harvest around October-November this year, barring any natural disruptions.”
He explained the impact of the “lean season” on agriculture, which occurs between June and July before the next harvest. Challenges such as shrinking agricultural land, flooding, habitat problems, insecurity, and an ageing farming population also contribute to the shortage, with fewer young people entering the agricultural sector.
“To address these issues, the government is promoting mechanized farming by distributing fertilizers and purchasing tractors.Kyari noted, “We have placed orders for 200 tractors and 9,000 other farming implements from Belarus. The traditional hoe is outdated, which is why we are focusing on mechanization.”
