THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, HAS FLAGGED OFF THE FIRST-EVER RAIN-FED COMMERCIAL WHEAT CULTIVATION IN NIGERIA.

THE EVENT, TOOK PLACE AT THE WHEAT SEED MULTIPLICATION FARM IN KWALL, BASSA LGA OF PLATEAU STATE.

THE OCASSION HAD IN ATTENDANCE WHEAT FARMERS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

THE PRESIDENT BUHARI, WHO WAS REPRESENTED BY PLATEAU STATE GOVERNOR SIMON BAKO LALONG AT THE LAUNCH, NOTED THAT THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR WAS ONE OF THE CRITICAL NON-OIL SECTORS WHICH HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP).

HE SAID THE SECTOR ACCOUNTED FOR 22.35 AND 23.78 PER CENT CONTRIBUTION TO THE OVERALL GDP IN THE FIRST AND SECOND QUARTERS OF 2021, RESPECTIVELY.

THE PRESIDENT NOTED THAT NIGERIA IS ON THE PATH TO ACTUALIZING SUSTAINABILITY IN THE PRODUCTION OF RICE, MAIZE, CASSAVA, SOYBEAN, GROUNDNUT, OIL PALM, COCOA, AND VERY SOON THE BREAKTHROUGH IN WHEAT CULTIVATION IN NIGERIA WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED.

HE HOWEVER CALLED ON NIGERIAN FARMERS TO EMBRACE WHEAT FARMING AND STOP THE IMPORTATION OF THE PRODUCT WHICH HE SAYS GULPS OVER TWO BILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY.