In a decisive move to tackle food insecurity and soaring commodity prices, the Federal Government has unveiled an enhanced National Agricultural Growth Scheme (NAGS) a bold initiative designed to boost local food production, support smallholder farmers, and fortify Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, led a high-level meeting in Abuja on March 19, 2025, to fast-track the implementation of the scheme.
Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga in a statement qoted the ninister to have reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to achieving food self-sufficiency, emphasizing that agriculture remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and a key driver of national stability.
The enhanced NAGS is coming at a crucial time as Nigerians grapple with fluctuating food prices and supply chain disruptions. The initiative will directly support 200,000 farmers during the wet season and 50,000 during the dry season, focusing on staple crops such as rice, maize, cassava, and sorghum, key commodities for national food security.
With financial and technical backing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and a newly signed Mechanization and Commercialisation Programme with Brazil, the scheme will provide Access to modern farm machinery and mechanization to boost productivity, Affordable agricultural inputs and financing to smallholder farmers and Strategic storage solutions to prevent post-harvest losses and ensure year-round food availability.
The Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Mr. Cornelius O. Adebayo, underscored the importance of a cohesive strategy that integrates government agencies, financial institutions, and private sector players to fix Nigeria’s broken food supply chain.
“Food security is national security,” he stated. “This initiative is about ensuring that every Nigerian has access to affordable, nutritious food while empowering local farmers to thrive in a more structured, supportive system.”
Beyond farm-level support, the meeting also focused on resolving logistical challenges in food distribution and strengthening strategic grain reserves to shield the country from future food crises.
With this initiative, Nigeria is not only tackling food insecurity but also laying the groundwork for an agricultural revtion that will create jobs, drive exports, and position the country as a leader in sustainable food production across Africa.
As the government rolls out the enhanced NAGS, it reaffirms its commitment to transforming agriculture from a struggling sector into a powerhouse of economic growth and food security. The initiative marks a defining step toward a hunger-free, self-reliant Nigeria
