Godswill Michael
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has called for national collaboration to expand rainfed wheat production across Nigeria.
He described the move as a game-changer that will boost local production, cut import costs, and strengthen the nation’s food security.
Kyari made the appeal at the Second National Rainfed Wheat Farmers’ Field Day held over the weekend in Kuru, Jos, Plateau State.
He said the newly developed climate-resilient wheat varieties would transform the country’s agricultural landscape and empower farmers to grow the crop during the rainy season without relying on irrigation.
“The development and successful cultivation of rainfed wheat in Kuru is nothing short of transformative. It means that wheat production is no longer confined to irrigated zones,” the Minister said.
He added that farmers in the highlands of Jos, Mambila, and Obudu — located in Plateau, Taraba, and Cross River States respectively — can now cultivate wheat naturally, sustainably, and profitably during the rainy season.
“This innovation opens the door to a future where Nigeria’s wheat demand can be met by our own farmers and grown on our own soil,” he added.
Kyari emphasised that the breakthrough goes beyond science, describing it as “a bold step toward achieving food and nutrition security for our great nation.”
He commended the Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI) for developing the rainfed wheat varieties, praising the achievement as proof of Nigerian innovation and scientific excellence.
The Minister reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to prioritizing agriculture as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic transformation and national security.
“The President recognises that no nation can be truly sovereign unless it can feed itself, employ its youth, and create prosperity from its land. Agriculture has therefore been elevated from a development programme to a presidential priority, driving food security, economic diversification, and inclusive growth,” he said.
Kyari explained that the Federal Government is implementing a comprehensive agricultural renewal plan focused on mechanization, input access, credit expansion, post-harvest management, and strategic partnerships to boost productivity across the value chains.
He noted that the government, in partnership with development agencies, private investors, and state governments, is scaling up rainfed wheat cultivation from pilot sites like Kuru to hundreds of thousands of hectares nationwide.
“We are ensuring farmers have access to certified seeds, modern mechanization services, and reliable market linkages, making wheat production profitable and sustainable,” he stated.
Outlining the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda in agriculture, the Minister highlighted several ongoing initiatives: the deployment of over 2,000 tractors and combine harvesters nationwide under the Renewed Hope Mechanization Initiative; provision of affordable financing for farmers and agribusinesses; recapitalization of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA); and the operationalization of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) to provide long-term financing for agricultural investments, innovation, and rural enterprise development.
Appealing to partners and stakeholders to join in expanding the rainfed wheat initiative, Kyari stressed the importance of shared responsibility in building a self-sufficient agricultural economy.
“I invite you to join us in scaling up this success. Together, we can build agro-industrial value chains that create jobs, reduce imports, boost national income, and move from importing billions of naira worth of wheat annually to becoming self-sufficient and ultimately, exporters of quality Nigerian wheat,” he said.
