The Africa Development Bank (AFDB) planning to support the Agricultural Research and Development for Strategic crops (SARD SC) Programme with $63 Million to boost food,nutritional Security and to fight poverty in 20 countries of sub Saharan Africa.

The $63m will be utilized on agriculture research, creation of new technology and distribution of the modern technology for the development of rice, wheat, cassava and maize.

The Project Coordinator, Dr. Chris Akem said that Provision of Social infrastructure and efficient Management of the project, saying about 20 percent Additional yield is targeted from the four crops within the four years time frame.

Stakeholders were admonished to deliberate positively on how production of wheat can be sky-rocket in order to reduce the importation of the wheat in to the country.

Dr. Akinbolawa Osho, acting permanent secretary who represent Minister of

Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said the programme is aimed at reducing importation of wheat by at least, 50 percent and improved seeds would be distributed to the farmers in the selected states of the country.

The states are; Borno (Ngala and Kirnowa) Taraba (Gembu, Ngoroje), Adamawa (Dasin Hausa), Bauchi (Badel, Jama're and Misau), Jigawa (Hadejia, Chiyeko, Ringim),Plateau (Tahoss).

Other states are; Kano (kadawa, Bunkure, Alkamawa, and Bagwai), Kebbi (kebbi),Sokoto (sokoto), Zamfara (Talata mafara), Yobe (Gashua), Gombe (Balanga and Dadinkowa).

Implementation of the African Union Maputo Declaration in which 10 percent of the Annual budget of the country is to be used to develop Agriculture is now given support by the House of Representatives.

The lower house said only the strong financing of Agriculture projects by the

Federal government, especially Research and Development will be ineffective.