The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has urged Nigerians to be patient in the face of the rising cost of food items in the country. He noted that with bumper harvests in around October and November the prices of food will drastically crash in the country.
This Minster disclosed this on Sunday during an interview with Channels Television.
He stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu decided to approve the zero-import duties on rice, maize, wheat and other staple foods to mitigate food shortages.
IVNTV NEWS recalls that Federal Government had okayed a 180-day zero import duty on selected staple foods.
Kyari explained that the programme is expected to last until around October or November. This is when the harvest season for agricultural crops would have set in.
He, however, stated that the importation of food items into the country is a temporary measure by the Federal Government. Noting that it is to curb food inflation and will not continue indefinitely.
Kyari also mentioned that Nigeria is expected to have a substantial harvest in the coming months. And this is anticipated to reduce food prices significantly.
He said, “We are talking about an importation level of 300,000 to 400,000 metric tonnes per month for all five crops. It will last only until harvest. It’s about October or November this year. That’s when we’re going to have the harvest. We’re expecting a bumper harvest.
“The season that we find ourselves in now is a cyclical issue that you have in agriculture. This is what you call the lean season. And this is between June, July and August before the next harvest.
“That is why Mr. President has decided to import rice, maize, wheat and other staple foods. This will happen as soon as all the fiscal issues have been worked out and the Ministry of Finance and Customs have ironed out the fiscal aspect of it.”
source: Daily Post
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