Reps Summon Agric Minister Over Modality To Procure Machanised Tools For 774 LGs

The House of Representatives has mandated its committee on agricultural production and services to invite the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) office to work out modality to procure mechanised agricultural equipment to farmers at subsidised rate across the 774 local government areas.

The summons followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Aderemi Oseni at plenary on Tuesday when he noted that the uncontrollably high cost of food and related items had left average Nigerian struggling to keep up, thereby increasing the cost of living in the country.

Oseni observed that continuous increase in the prices of food was largely due to subsistence farming systems practiced by Nigerians, which can only produce meagre outputs.

He emphasised the need for the federal government to aggressively encourage small farmers to engage in mechanised farming to increase production and ensure food security.

The lawmaker said providing modern farming machines and introducing modern farming skills with the aid of technology will boost food production in Nigeria.

The lawmaker harped on the need for the federal government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security with the 36 states, FCT, and the 774 Local Government Areas to set up farm settlements in each of the local government areas and equip them with modern farming machinery.

“These measures, when implemented, will revolutionise the agricultural value chain and food production sector, make it more attractive, encourage more people to go into farming, and attract investment to the sector,” Oseni said.