The ministry had been allocated an envelope of N10 billion for capital expenditure and N1.8 billion for overhead in the 2025 budget proposal.
Talking about the case of Cross River, the minister said several efforts to establish a cocoa industry in the state were frustrated because of politics.
Deputy Governor Kaletapwa Farauta said that over 1,000 members of the cooperative societies, mostly women, would benefit directly from the gesture.
He decried that incessant attacks on farmers and destruction of crops in farmlands were largely responsible for food shortage, particularly in the North.
She also called for improvement in road infrastructure.
The PPF national coordinator said that the move would, in the long run, strengthen the agricultural value chain and boost farmers’ income and well-being.
The AATF project manager said increased anti-GMO technology activism, with court cases, is another challenge to stop African farmers from growing genetically engineered crops.
Mr Musefiu also said that farmers needed periodic training in new farming methods.
Haruna Buhari, acting secretary of the public policy advocacy unit of GDNN, made this call on Wednesday at a news conference in Abuja.
The National Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria is seeking the federal government’s intervention to reduce post-harvest losses.
