The Federal Government said it produced 15 million metric tonnes of food in 2013, adding that the success recorded in increased food production ensured Nigeria achieved the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of halving the number of hungry people in two years ahead of its deadline.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sonny Echono, spoke in Abuja during the launch of the Establishment and Implementation of Fertilizer Quality Control System in Nigeria. The initiative was supported by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.
Represented by the Director, Farm Inputs Support Services, Mr. Akinbolawa Osho, he said the Ministry distributed 738, 305. 80 MT of fertilizers to farmers last under its Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS).
He said: “As we all know, the current agricultural policies have made tremendous inroads in the fertilizer sub-sector especially in curbing the corruption in the distribution of fertilizer to our resource constrained farmers through the use of e-wallets in the administration of fertilizer subsidy.
“As a result of the GESS, 121, 522.8 MT, 525,509.48 MT and 738, 305.80 MT of fertilizer were redeemed by farmers nationwide in 2012, 2013, and 2014 respectively.