The Minister informed that the federal government will engage relevant stakeholders to set a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) and mop up surplus assorted food commodities to restock the National Strategic Food Reserve as well continue to ramp-up production for the 2024/2025 farming cycle, even as they will sustained support to smallholder farmers in the ongoing wet season farming.
Abubakar Kyari , the minister of Agriculture and Food Security, he 150-day duty free import window for food commodities include suspension of duties, tariffs and taxes for the importation of maize, husked brown rice, wheat and cowpeas. Under this arrangement, imported food commodities will be subjected to a Recommended Retail Price (RRP).
“I am glad to reiterate that the government’s position exemplifies standards that would not compromise the safety of the various food items for consumption,” he said.
“In addition to the importation by the private sector, the Federal Government will import 250,000MT of Wheat and 250,000MT of Maize. The imported food commodities in their semi processed state will target supplies to the small-scale processors and millers across the country.
Other efforts by the federal government he added will include development of a strategic engagement for youth and women across the federation for immediate greenhouse, cultivation of horticultural crops such as tomatoes and pepper to increase production volume, stabilise prices, and address food shortages and fast-tracking ongoing engagements with the Nigerian Military to rapidly cultivate arable lands under the Defence Farms Scheme, while encouraging other Para-Military establishments to put secured available arable lands to cultivation.
