Over 1000 bloggers under the aegis of the Bloggers and Vloggers Content Creators Association in Nigeria (BAVCCA) and Tinubu-Shettima Support Group have lauded the creation of 60,000 jobs in various rural economies across the country under the leadership of the minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari.
The bloggers and Tinubu-Shettima Support Group in a joint statement on Sunday and signed by the vice president of BAVCCA, Dr. Adebayo Olugbenga, national coordinator of Tinubu-Shettima Support Group, Shehu Mohammed and the Secretary, Hon Uche Okafor respectively expressed their unwavering support for Kyari's transformative leadership and the significant progress made in the agricultural sector under his stewardship in the last one year.
The statement reads in part, "It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we, the members of the Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association in Nigeria, and the Tinubu-Shettima Support Group gathered here today to pass a vote of confidence in the minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari.
"In the past one year, Senator Kyari has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to revolutionising agriculture in Nigeria, and we are here to applaud his remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication to this crucial sector of our economy."
They pointed out that the agricultural sector under the watch of Kyari, has injected an estimated value of N309billion into the Nigerian economy in the last one year, as the money was injected through the harvest of agricultural produce.
And commended the minister for the provision of rural infrastructure, such as the construction of 77.8km of asphalt roads; construction of 130.9 km of earthen roads; provision of 102 motorised and solar-powered boreholes and installation of 6,504 solar street lights, as well as generating over 60,000 jobs in various rural economies.
Enumerating some of the minister's achievements, they said the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security had launched dry season farming with cultivation of 118,657 hectares of wheat in 15 states in acceleration of all- year- round farming in a bid to ensure food and nutrition security.
They noted that at the end of dry season farming, one of the participating States, Jigawa, had produced 55,000 metric tonnes of wheat.
The vice president of BAVCCA disclosed that the Federal Government has also supported 107,429 wheat farmers with inputs such as fertilisers, seeds, pesticides, resulting in output of 474,628 metric tonnes.
The leadership of BAVCCA and the Tinubu-Shettima supporters, observed that in response to Presidential directive, the Ministry of Agriculture had released 42,000metric tonnes of assorted food commodities made up of maize, millet, sorghum and garri, from the National Strategic Food Reserve to National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for onward distribution to vulnerable Nigerians.
As part of measures to reduce escalating prices of food items in the markets, they expressed joy that the Federal Government procured and distributed 58,500 metric tonnes of milled rice to all states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
According to the statement, "To reduce malnutrition and stunted growth among children, the federal government had embarked on fortification of crops with Vitamin A micronutrient to enrich nutrition content and health value of food commodities.
"In response to persistent food inflation, the Federal Government has distributed 60,432metric tons of improved seeds, 887,255mt seedlings, 138 kits, 501,726 litres of agrochemicals, 62,328.5 metric tonnes of inorganic fertilisers, 1,000kg fungicide, and 33,200 equipment to farmers across different value chains to enhance production.
"The ministry also received 2.15 million bags of fertiliser from the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) for distribution to farmers free of charge, adding that the distribution of the farm input has begun across the States.
"As part of measures to guarantee the protection and safety of farmers in their farm lands, there has been an improvement of farmland security with provision of additional resources to Agro Rangers and other security agencies.
"On livestock production and animal health, the Federal Government had in the last one year procured and distributed 14,056,467 doses of anthrax spore, foot and mouth diseases vaccines for risk-based vaccination exercise in 22 high-risk states across Nigeria."
The groups further noted with satisfaction the establishment of animal health centres and veterinary hospitals, six micro earth dams and eight boreholes, 164 milk collection centres, eight cottage feed mills and seven livestock centres in the country.
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On Mechanisation, BAVCCA explained that the Ministry had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with John Deere and Tata Africa to assemble in-country and supply 10,000 tractors with implements and accessories at 2,000 units yearly, as well as 100 units of combine harvesters to support production.
The groups explained that the federal government had partnered with the Brazilian government with the sum 995,000 Euros to provide mechanisation hubs across the Federation.
They are confident that under the continued stewardship of Kyari, the agricultural sector will thrive, contributing to the country's food security, economic prosperity, and sustainable development.
"Kyari's dedication, innovation, and tireless efforts have truly set a new standard for agricultural leadership in Nigeria.
"We, the members of BAVCCA and Tinubu-Shettima Support Group, pledge our unwavering support and commitment to working alongside the Minister to further strengthen the agricultural sector and realise our collective vision of a prosperous, food-secure, and environmentally sustainable Nigeria," the statement assured.
