FG stockpiling its Strategic Food Reserves

The Federal Government of Nigeria is actively pursuing a plan to stockpile its Strategic Food Reserve to address food security concerns, stabilise prices, and ensure financial liquidity into the agricultural sector for farmers.

The government said the gesture would enable farmers to go into all-year-round farming especially during the dry season.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari, gave the assurance on a working tour of some facilities in Kaduna with the Minister of State for Agriculture Sen. Abdullahi Aliyu in company of other stakeholders.

The tour was on the sidelines of the 47 Regular meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS).

Reacting to the worries by farmers on crash in cost of food items across the country in spite hike in cost of input he however assured of the readiness of the government to tackle the challenge.

“Though farmers are worried about crash in cost of food but they also go to the same markets and as well benefit from cheaper prices.

“At the same time, the problem with farmers is the price of inputs.

“President Bola Tinubu is working on that. We are going to tackle the price of inputs and balance the welfare of citizens and that of the farmers.

“Very soon, we are also going to stock up strategic reserves, which will give a lot of financial liquidity into the agricultural sector for farmers to be able to go into all-year-round farming, especially in the dry season,”he said

Assessing the performance of some factories visited the minister expressed satisfaction over the high level and interest of the populace on food production, processing of raw materials among others.

According to him, farmers and processors have heed to the clarion call of President Tinubu, on the issue of food security and food sovereignty.

He says “it is evident that what you see on the field is almost in line with the renewal hope agenda of Mr. President,”.

Our correspondent reports that some of the factories visited include Olam Agri, TMDK Agro Park, DEBRANCH Farmers, Quality Afriexim Bank Quality Assurance Office and Tomato Jos

According to him, the quality assurance office seeks to give Nigerian produce a seal of approval for both domestic and export markets.

Mira Mehta, Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) Tomato Jos giving an overview of the company’s activities said the company aimed at producing high-quality tomato paste from locally grown tomatoes, thereby supporting smallholder farmers and boosting Nigeria’s food security.

Mehta said the company’s core mission is “local production for local consumption,” creating a middle class in rural Nigeria by providing a consistent market for farmers and processing their produce into high-quality paste.

She emphasised that the company operates a state-of-the-art processing factory in Kaduna State making it the third-largest tomato processing plant in Nigeria.

“We work with over 350 partner farmers, providing them with support, modern farming techniques, and a guaranteed market for their crops.

“Tomato Jos aims to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported tomato products and create jobs, both directly and indirectly.

“It has created hundreds of jobs in the construction of its factory among others,”she said.

Mehta who frowned at importation of tomatoes paste from China said it was detrimental to the country’s economy

She who said the organisation has invested over 20 million dollars empowering the populace adding that women account for 60 per cent of the farmers.

Mehta further said that tomato Jos has also invested in infrastructure.

According to her, at the moment the organisation has cleared over 300 hectres of irrigated land in preparation for dry season tomato cultivation.

The CEO listed some of the challenges bedeviling the industry as market, importation of tomatoes paste, policies, inputs like fertiliser and other chemicals, Tuta Absoluta , a major pest of tomato.

She however, called for the creation of coordinated quick response by the Federal Government in order to ensure that the disease would no longer thrive in the country.

The CEO further decried that the organisation is challenged with selling their final product

She, however, solicited the partnership of the government, food packaging companies to mop up their products and become an ambassador of their grains.

Our correspondent reports that Nigeria has 33 grain silos nationwide with a total storage capacity of about 1.136 million metric tonnes.