Abuja: The Federal Government has announced plans to promote all-year-round farming as part of efforts to boost food production across the country. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, revealed this in Abuja during a ministerial news conference to mark the 2025 World Food Day.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the theme for this year is ‘Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future’. Abdullahi highlighted that the 2025 Wet Season Agricultural Performance Survey showed steady growth in Nigeria’s agricultural output, particularly in rice, maize, sorghum, millet, cowpea, yam, and cassava production. These crops recorded higher yields compared to the previous year, attributed to modest expansion in cultivated areas, improved farming practices, and resilience among farmers in major producing states.
The minister announced the initiation of a Dry Season Initiative, which aims to ensure all-year-round farming on 500,000 hectares of land. The first phase is focused on wheat production in 15 states, while the second phase will cover rice, maize, and cassava. Abdullahi also mentioned efforts to scale up industrial transformation in the agriculture sector through Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), supported by the African Development Bank and other partners.
The SAPZ programme’s first phase covers Kaduna, Cross River, Kano, Kwara, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and the FCT, with implementation already underway in Kaduna and Cross River States since April 2025. The programme aims to boost agricultural output by over 60 per cent, reduce post-harvest losses by 80 per cent, promote value addition, create jobs, and improve market access, ultimately accelerating Nigeria’s shift towards an agro-industrial economy and supporting broader national diversification efforts.
Additionally, the government has unveiled a plan to strengthen the National Strategic Food Reserve to ensure adequate stockpiling of essential commodities. This measure is intended to prevent crises from acute food shortages and reduce dependence on imports, stabilising food prices and ensuring a steady supply of essential commodities.
In his remarks, the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, stated that the establishment of the Livestock Ministry aims to transform the sub-sector into a modern, economically viable industry. The ministry plans to partner with the Ministry of Agriculture to synergise efforts, as their goals are complementary.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that farm inputs such as sprayers, organic fertilisers, and water pumps were distributed to women farmers’ organisations and young farmers’ clubs in schools.