Sustain agricultural funding to close yield gap, boost food security — Minister tells Reps

By Christiana Ekpa

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has called for sustained and increased funding for the agricultural sector to close the nation’s wide yield gap and guarantee food security.
Speaking at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Agricultural Production and Services on Monday, the Minister stressed that consistent investment in research, innovation, and farm productivity is critical to bridging existing shortfalls in crop yields — particularly rice and cassava.
The public hearing featured three key bills aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural framework, including the National Agricultural Development Fund (Amendment) Bill, the National Farm Settlements Agency (Establishment) Bill, and the National Rice Production, Processing, and Research Institute (Establishment) Bill.
Abdullahi noted that while Nigeria remains Africa’s largest producer of cassava and a major rice grower, productivity levels remain far below global standards.
> “If we can double our rice yield from an average of five tonnes to eight tonnes per hectare, we can easily bridge the current two-million-tonne national deficit,” he said. “The same goes for cassava — if farmers achieve even half of the research potential yield, we could double national output and inject massive value into the economy.”
He urged lawmakers to prioritize reforms that strengthen existing institutions rather than proliferating new ones, warning that many agricultural agencies have become “employment centres” instead of productivity hubs.
On the proposed bills, the Minister said the Ministry supports their objectives but called for careful alignment with existing policies to ensure efficiency and avoid duplication.
Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, Hon. Bello Kaoje, said the three bills are designed to reposition agriculture as a driver of inclusive growth, poverty reduction, and food security.
Sound policies backed by strong legislation are the foundation for a productive, innovative, and competitive agricultural sector,” Kaoje noted.