The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammed Abubakar, has allayed fears being nursed by some Nigerians on imminent food scarcity in the country, arising from flooding and security challenges.
Abubakar allayed the fears in Abuja Monday during 2023 budget defence session his ministry had with the National Assembly joint committee on Agriculture.
Some members of Senator Yahaya Abdullahi-led Committee had in their interface with the Minister, decried the effect of flooding in the country to farm produce which according to them, may led to food shortage in the country in the coming months.
Senator Yahaya Abdullahi in particular said projections had been made that Africa may experience food shortage given the stoppage of grains importations occasioned by Russian Ukrainian wars.
“Aside the projection, flooding being experienced in the country is also very worrisome and serious indicator of food scarcity in future going by farm lands and crops that have been washed away,” he said.
But the minister in his response said the concern about food scarcity in the coming months is well noted and already being nipped in the bud.
“The main concern about food scarcity, in the coming months, we will not allow that to happen, I can guarantee you by the Grace of God, because we have measures in place.
“One of the measure is dry season farming, which we have in place and the money, we are working with Ministry of Finance, we have gotten money from financing agencies, one of them is AFDB, and we will intensify dry season farming,” he said.
He added that his ministry was already assessing the flood situation across the country as regards extent of damage done to farm lands and crops like, rice, maize etc.
According to him, in line with the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari for the provision of a master plan to mitigate flood, Ministry of Agriculture is collaborating with Ministries of Water Resources and Environment.
