The Federal Government says it will inaugurate the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism (NAPM) to strengthen agricultural productivity and stabilise food prices.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima disclosed this on Friday during a meeting of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) Steering Committee at the Presidential Villa.

Shettima said the initiative will align with agricultural efforts across all government tiers through real-time data analytics.

“The Green Imperative Project (GIP) is an idea whose time has come. It has been in the incubation period for several years, and now it is coming to fruition; we have to get it right.

“We have had many interventions in this country in the past. We must make this work, and it is the states that will drive the process,” he said.

Shettima recalled that President Bola Tinubu approved N15 billion for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to prepare for floods as the rainy season kicks in.

“This is one of the first proactive decisions by the government to prepare for the flooding season,” the Vice-President noted.

Earlier, Marion Moon, Technical Assistant to the President on Agriculture, explained that NAPM would address challenges of high food inflation and agricultural yields that lag 60 per cent behind global averages.

Moon, who is also the Executive Secretary of PFSCU, revealed that the pilot survey for NAPM had been completed across 13 states, with a full launch planned for June 2025.

She said NAPM, supported by data analytics partnerships and a digital platform under development, was designed to tackle food inflation, inefficient subsidies, and outdated farming practices.

“This will give the country a unified framework to optimise public spending and drive sustainable rural development.”

On his part, Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa State, said the initiative would improve food security in the country.

“The aim is to ensure that there is food security in the country. As at today, vital issues that will lead to food security in this country had been discussed.

“The green imperative project is very important and by the time this project comes on board, it will certainly boost agriculture,” he said.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi