A large-scale wheat farmer and processor in Kano State, Mannir Babba Dan’agundi, has advocated policy consistency in boosting agricultural production in the country.

Mr Dan’agundi made the appeal at Kwanar Dangora in the Bebeji Local Government Area of the state.

He spoke shortly after a tour of a wheat demonstration farm and wheat warehouse under the aegis of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation on Wednesday.

Mr Dan’agundi, who also produces maize, sorghum and paddy rice, expressed the need for commitment to consistent policies to enhance agricultural production in the country.

He said once the country got its agricultural policies right and continued with them, the objective of boosting agricultural production would be achieved.

He stated, “It is about commitment; it is about the consistency of the policy. Once we do that and are committed, Nigeria has the land, the water and the people to do what it is supposed to do. And with our population of over 200 million people, it is imperative for us to ensure that we grow something with which we can even feed ourselves. So, I am hopeful with what the government is doing, and I think we need to do more.’’

Mr Dan’agundi, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Kumbotso Federal Constituency in Kano State, urged all stakeholders to thrive to make Nigerians “more proactive and responsive to the responsibilities in the agricultural sector.”

Earlier, the Head of TAAT Clearinghouse, Dr Solomon Gizaw, said if farmers could get the right policy support, the right technology and the right market link to the processors, it would be possible for them “to become competent and profitable, and they could change lives and livelihoods. In fact, Africa can feed itself.”

“In Nigeria, we are seeing a great opportunity for Nigeria to be self-sufficient in wheat in the coming few years,” Mr Gizaw said.

He added that Nigeria today produces only five per cent of the wheat it consumes and imports the remaining 95 per cent worth over $5 billion.

The inspection tour was preceded by a train-the-trainer workshop on wheat seed production in Nigeria held in Kano.

“The training is to remind us that we have all that it takes to get the revolution in wheat production in Nigeria,” said the TAAT Programme Coordinator, Dr Chrys Akem.

(NAN)