According to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, Nigerians consumes 6.06 Million Metric Tonnes of Wheat Grains annually.
This disclosure has however prompted the National Agricultural Commodities Projects, NACP, to think outside the box by not leaving any Stone unturned in its quest to boost Wheat Production in Nigeria.
This is coming at a time the nation is going through economic hardship, which in turn is having an adverse effect on the masses.
Hunger and sufferings have been the lot of the masses, which has metamorphosed into the ongoing nationwide protest.
In changing the fortunes of the country and contributing its own quota to food production, NACP has come out with an initiative in unlocking Wheat Production and the prosperity accrued to it.
In an interview with Alh. Abbas Mohammed, NACP National Project Director, disclosed that the proposed project is to cultivate 150,000 hectares of wheat for the 2024/2025 dry season farming, aimed at boosting wheat production, with farmers across Nigeria benefitting from the initiative, and reduce import dependent.
Mohammed is saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the project’s implementation and ensuring its success and impact on wheat farmers and the agricultural sector.
Research has shown that Nigeria Wheat is rich in protein and low in Gluten.
The NACP National Project Director further highlighted the key projects that deal majorly with the cultivation of 150,000 hectares of wheat at 3 tons per hectares to produce 450,000 MT of wheat grains.
He added that the NACP Intervention Program to support farmers with farming inputs via the PPP scheme, with 15,000 metric tons of certified seeds required to be sourced locally.
He, however, stated that the project activities will include know your member (KYM), land preparation, farm mapping, monitoring by insurance companies, Project Management Team (PMT), Agro-Rangers, and necessary agencies.
The project is expected to take off in 13 States that has been considered, which includes, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Zamfara, Gombe, Yobe, Kaduna, Taraba, Katsina, Adamawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Niger State.
He however called on the Federal Government to increase Wheat Levy to encourage local production.
Mohammed added that the NACP has invited all stakeholders in the wheat value chain to contact the body for more information and to participate in this project, they should Please visit their websites at (www.nacpdata.ng) and (www.nacp.ng), or reach NACP through email and WhatsApp Numbers: nacp2023.amilokan@gmail.com, nacpeco1@gmail.com, and +234861669897 or call +2348034590374.