In a significant revelation, Mr. Temitope Fadeshemi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, disclosed on Wednesday in Kaduna that a staggering 88.4 million people in Nigeria are living in extreme poverty.
The revelation came during an event where farm inputs and empowerment materials were distributed to 250 smallholder farmers.
Fadeshemi emphasized the urgency of addressing poverty in Nigeria, stating, “The level of poverty in Nigeria is alarming. An estimated population of 88.4 million people in Nigeria is living in extreme poverty.” The statistics revealed that approximately 44.7 million men and 43.7 million women in the country are living on less than $1.90 USD per day.*
Highlighting the global impact, Fadeshemi mentioned that Nigeria accounted for 12.9% of the global population in extreme poverty as of 2022. In response to this crisis, the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, is actively working to reduce poverty.
The distribution event in Kaduna marked a milestone in the Federal Government’s commitment to uplift the lives of smallholder farmers and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
Fadeshemi expressed enthusiasm for the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), emphasizing its role in addressing poverty at its roots and promoting economic growth.
Fadeshemi stated, “The NPRGS reflects our government’s dedication to addressing poverty at its roots, emphasizing the pivotal role agriculture plays in economic growth and development.”
He applauded the collaboration between the Ministry and NPRGS, viewing it as a powerful synergy for achieving meaningful impact.
The empowerment program was not merely seen as an investment in agriculture but as an investment in the nation’s future. Fadeshemi encouraged participating farmers to absorb knowledge, hone skills, and apply insights to elevate their farms and communities.
Dr. Timkat Nanfa, the State Coordinator of the Ministry, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for including the state in the program. He urged participants to maximize the empowerment items, which included organic fertilizers, sprayers, maize seeds, rice seeds, tomato seeds, pepper seeds, poultry chicks, poultry feeds, and fish feeds, among others.
The event aimed not only to empower smallholder farmers but to foster a more resilient and prosperous agricultural sector.
Fadeshemi concluded with a hopeful vision, stating, “With determination, collaboration, and a shared vision, we can transform challenges into opportunities and empower our agricultural sector to lead the way towards a more resilient and prosperous Nigeria.”