The federal government, through the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) is embarking on a massive food production project in Plateau State to stop the food crisis threatening African countries.
Driving the news
This is the first agricultural intervention by the federal government in a rural community, where farmers produce food in large quantities.
Current situation
Russia, one of the top suppliers of nitrogen fertilizers and the second top exporter of potassium fertilizer, is facing sanctions due to its continuous invasion of Ukraine, thereby limiting the exportation of some of its products such as fertilizers to countries where it is needed.
- Russia’s fertilizers of 50 million tonnes per year represents a 13% of global fertilizer supply. The war also pushed up the global price of natural gas, an important ingredient for producing fertilizer.
- Food production costs have significantly risen as the cost of fertilizer continues to rise.
What they are saying
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, NALDA, Paul Ikonne, said that President Muhammadu Buhari has tasked them with providing enough food to weather the potential food crisis. He also encouraged more people to go into farming.
Projects to be carried out
- Cultivation of 200 hectares of maize farm for the 2022 wet season.
- 5 solar-powered boreholes for dry season irrigation farming and to serve as a source of water supply for the communities.
- The distribution of inputs, such as seeds, herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers to about 600 benefiting farmers through the traditional rulers and youth leaders.