Food Security: Government, Crown Flour Mills partner to boost wheat production

*The Federal Government of Nigeria has stated that its initiative to partner with Crown Flour Mills (Olam Grains) is aimed at reducing wheat importation, enhance food security and nutrition, and create job opportunities for the citizenry

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

As part of the country’s initiatives to reduce wheat importation, enhance food security and nutrition, create opportunities, and conserve foreign exchange, the Federal Government of Nigeria is in partnership with Crown Flour Mills (Olam Grains) to expand wheat production in the country.

Alhaji Muhammed Sabo Nanono, Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, who disclosed this development in a statement Sunday, February 28, in Abuja, FCT, by Mohammed Gana, Information Officer in the ministry, expressed delight at the interest shown by Olam Grains.

The minister said this when Ms. Damilola Adeniyi, Corporate Affairs Manager of Crown Flour Mills led the Management of the company on a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja.

Wheat production in Nigeria   Photo: The Guardian

Nanono said that the initiative would reduce wheat importation, enhance food security and nutrition, conserve scarce foreign exchange and create jobs.

He stressed that the Ministry had put in place deliberate measures to ensure increased wheat production, including the provision of quality seeds and the distribution of agricultural inputs to the farmers.

The ministry would also support the group in its development efforts, he noted.

According to him, with the intervention by Crown Flour Mills and other interventions, such as those of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN), Transformation for Africa Agricultural Technologies (TAAT), and Wheat Compact Project, Nigeria would experience sustainable sufficiency in local wheat production.

Ms. Adeniyi said that the purpose of the visit was to update the Minister on the group’s activities and to seek collaboration with the Ministry.

The Corporate Affairs Manager explained that through such collaboration, the company hoped to leverage Nigeria’s wheat-growing potential by bringing in new seed varieties and modern technology to facilitate the growth and expansion of wheat production in the country.

The company planned to introduce the findings of research trials it conducted recently on the cultivation of a heat-tolerant variety of wheat, said she.

Adeniyi also expressed optimism that the process would boost local production of wheat, increase the quantity and improve quality in Nigeria.

She informed the Minister that the Crown Flour Mills has been involved in various developmental efforts such as research and seed trials, capacity building in modern agricultural practices, distribution of inputs, among others.

The developmental efforts target smallholder wheat farmers and key players in the wheat production value chain, she said.

As one of its corporate social responsibilities, Adeniyi noted that the group is committed to the sustained training of Nigerian wheat farmers, provision of quality seeds for increased production as well as off-taking their produce.