The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMFS) has educated 60 women and youths in Plateau and Kaduna States in the green maize business.
The culture minister, Abubakar Kyari, stated during a training in Kaduna on Thursday that the goal was to increase maize output in the two states and lower maize prices in the northern region of the country.
Mr Bruce Asaleke, Director, Agric Extension in the ministry, represented Kyari, who stated that the program will educate smallholder farmers on all-year green maize production.
He said that the farmers would also be schooled on the maize value chain and given new agricultural practices to help the county’s production.
He said that the farmers would also be schooled on the maize value chain and given new agricultural practices to help the county’s production.
The purpose, he stated, was to create jobs, eliminate scarcity, and raise farmer revenue.
According to him, this will improve their capacity and maize production as part of the government’s initiatives to empower women and youths in the country.
The minister stated that the ministry was working hard to safeguard the country’s food and nutrition security.
He called maize growing a “lucrative business” that provides jobs, promotes nutrition, and fosters socioeconomic progress.
Kyari stated that the selection of Plateau and Kaduna was based on the availability of land and climatic factors that favor maize growing in the areas.
Mr Muhammad Rili, General Manager of the Kaduna Agricultural Development Project (KADP), stated in his remarks that the training will increase the capacity of the famers to access the lucrative maize value chain.
Rili pointed out that, in addition to being a source of food, maize was also a source of raw material for industry.
He said that the training was part of the Federal Government’s programme to enhance maize production and ensure affordability of the produce, particularly in the northern part of the country.
Ms Juliana Choji, a participant from Plateau, described the training as ”timely”, and promised to put the knowledge gained to practice for better yield and high returns on investment.
Another participant from Kaduna, Ms Fatima Usman, expressed optimism for a more rewarding investment in maize production.
