FG to support Agric investments to boost food production

The Federal Government is committed to supporting all agricultural investments to boost food production in the country.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, asserted this on Tuesday at the inauguration of AL-YUMA Fertilizer Blending Plant at Madobi, Madobi Local Government area of Kano state.

The plant is owned by a Kano-based major fertilizer dealer, Alhaji Ali Yusuf.

Ogbeh, who was represented by the Minister of State (Agriculture), Mr Heineken Lokpobiri, said the Federal Government would continue to support the sector in view of the prevailing economic situation in the country.

“The Federal Government is determined to support all agricultural investments, especially blending plants.

“The best sector to invest is agriculture because it is the sector which everybody needs, including states and Federal Governments as well as the private sector.

“This, we believe will go a long way in boosting agricultural production in the country,” he said.

According to him, the Federal Government had conducted a comprehensive survey on soil map with a view to assessing the soil fertility across the country.
The Minister said the reports would enable the Federal Government to know the type of fertilizer each state requires for use by its farmers.

He said the Federal Government would recapitalize the Bank of Agriculture in addition to restructuring the bank to enable it discharge its duties effectively.

In his remarks, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state said his government had spent N1 billion to reactivate the abandoned state Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO).

NAN reports that the plant has installed bulk blending capacity of 700, 000 metric tonnes of per annum.