The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Temitope Fadeshemi, announced that an estimated 88.4 million individuals in Nigeria are facing severe poverty.
This information was shared in Kaduna on Wednesday as 250 smallholder farmers received agricultural inputs, as part of efforts under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS).
Fadeshemi, whose speech was delivered by Bashir Abdulkadir, the Director of the Department of Extension Services at the ministry, highlighted the concerning poverty levels across the country. He noted, “It’s distressing to acknowledge that approximately 88.4 million Nigerians are enduring extreme poverty. The data reveals that about 44.7 million men and 43.7 million women live on less than 1.90 U.S. dollars daily. Remarkably, Nigeria accounted for 12.9 percent of the worldwide extreme poverty population as of 2022.”
He described the distribution event as a key step in the government’s ongoing efforts to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and promote sustainable farming practices.
He further remarked, “It’s a pleasure to recall that the NPRGS, working alongside the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Service (FDAE), has successfully identified and confirmed the participation of about 250 farmers in this impactful initiative. These farmers are crucial to our agricultural sector and symbolize the essence of our country’s wealth.
“The NPRGS showcases our administration’s commitment to tackling poverty fundamentally, underscoring agriculture’s significant role in fostering economic expansion and progress. Today’s training and support initiative plants the seeds for beneficial change, equipping smallholder farmers with essential knowledge, means, and assistance to prosper in a dynamic agricultural environment.”