The Federal Government said it will increase agricultural inputs and other supports to farmers to boost natural food production.

Minister of Agriculture and food Security Senator Abubakar Kyari said the reason is to discourage excessive use of chemicals in farming system.

Kyari disclosed that government is prioritising the development and application of organic fertilizer in large scale and smallholder farming.

The minister spoke in Calabar, Cross River State, as the technical council of the 46TH Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security considered various memoranda submitted by stakeholders.

According to him: “The entire approach is to enhance agricultural productivity and production in the country.

“Our assistance to farmers in the provision of inputs has contributed to the output of crops.

“We will always facilitate rural communities, roads, electricity, boreholes, water harvesting structure, land clearing activity and appropriate technologies.”

He enjoined stakeholders and international support partners to uphold the principle of inclusiveness, transparency,

prioritisation and partnership for collective agribusiness undertakings in the country.

The minister explained that the 46th National Council on Agriculture and Food Security is a platform for appraising existing policies, programmes and projects at the national and sub-national levels, in order to entrench synergy.

Gov Bassey Otu, represented by his deputy, Peter Odey, hailed the agric initiatives, assuring that such will uplift Nigerian farmers and guarantee food security.

He disclosed that the state has invested much in the area of agriculture to reposition in the coming months.

Temitope Fashedemi, permanent secretary in the ministry said the council meeting aimed to streamline ideas and strategies for the purpose of actualising the potentials, prospects and opportunities in the agricultural sector of Nigeria.

FG increases inputs to farmers to discourage use of excessive chemicals