The Federal Government is currently acquiring more than 720,000 hectares of land from various states for agricultural use, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, said on Thursday.
Nanono said this at a meeting with chief executives of parastatals and top management officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Abuja.
He said his ministry was securing between 20,000 and 100,000 hectares of land in each state for the purpose of promoting the country’s agricultural sector.
At 20,000 hectares per state, the Federal Government would be acquiring a total of 720,000 hectares from all 36 states.
In his address at the event, the minister said, “At the moment, the ministry took pragmatic approach of repositioning the agricultural research system, securing 20,000 to 100,000 hectares of land per state for agricultural use, and promoting agro and agro-allied cluster activities nationwide.
“Expectations are to deploy improved varieties, expand cultivable land area and support agribusiness undertakings in the country.”