By Atoyebi Nike
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has restated the Federal Government’s commitment to boosting food security, driving economic diversification, and empowering women and youth through strategic agricultural investments.
Speaking during a visit to the 1,300-hectare Jangwa Rice Farm in Ayarkeke, Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Kyari said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is determined to transform the agricultural sector to meet rising food demands and reduce imports.
He said achieving self-sufficiency requires coordinated efforts between the federal and state governments, alongside private sector investment, to strengthen the country’s food production systems.
“Young people are the hope of our future. By investing in them today, we are safeguarding the nation’s tomorrow,” the minister said, pledging to revisit the farm after harvest to assess its impact.
The project, which Governor Abdullahi Sule described as one of the state’s Legacy Agricultural Projects, is divided into three production blocks and serves as a model for youth and women’s participation in commercial farming.
Sule highlighted Nasarawa’s position as a leading rice producer and the country’s largest sesame grower, adding that such initiatives have created jobs and helped reduce crime in the state.
High-quality Faro 45 and Faro 61 rice seeds for the farm are supplied by Olam, which also acts as the primary off-taker for the harvest.
