Future Of Nigeria Remains With Agriculture – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that the future of Nigeria now remains solidly with agriculture.
He said the agricultural sector is one of the critical non-oil sectors which has made significant contributions to the gross domestic product (GDP) accounting for a 22.35 and 23. 78 percent contribution to the overall GDP in the first and second quarters of 2021 respectively.
Buhari stated this while flagging of the Nigerian Brown Revolution and formal kick off of the 2021/2022 dry season farming in Nigeria which is Central Bank of Nigeria Wheat Value chain intervention which held on Tuesday in Kwall, Bassa LGC of Plateau State.
Buhari, who was represented by Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong at the launch, noted that the agricultural sector is one of the critical non-oil sectors which has made significant contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) accounting for a 22.35 and 23.78 per cent contribution to the overall GDP in the first and second quarters of 2021 respectively.
He said a key focus of his administration has been the deployment of mechanisms to ensure that agriculture thrives in Nigeria to significantly grow the economy and achieve maximum welfare for the citizens by ensuring food and energy security.
Buhari said Nigeria is on the path to actualizing sustainability in the production of rice, maize, cassava, soybean, groundnut, oil palm, cocoa and very soon the breakthrough in wheat cultivation in Nigeria will be accomplished.
He, however, lamented that Nigeria still spends humongous amounts of money on wheat import which is not acceptable because the country has the capacity to meet domestic consumption demands and also export.
CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, represented by Deputy Governor Corporate Services Mr Edward Lamtek Adamu, said in order to change the situation and leverage domestic production to bridge the demand-supply gap in the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria decided to add wheat to the list of focal commodities to be supported under the Bank’s agricultural intervention programmes.
He said improved seeds varieties of high yielding varieties from Mexico with potential average yield per hectare of 5-7 metric tons as against a range of 0.8-1.8 metric tons yield per hectare of those varieties previously cultivated have been acquired for distribution to farmers.
The National President of the Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Salim Saleh commended the effort of the CBN and expressed commitment and readiness of wheat farmers to go into the dry farming season this year