The Federal Government has set up a technical committee to increase wheat and other staple crop production, develop the livestock sector and address challenges affecting food security in Nigeria.

Vice President Kashim Shettima established the committee on Tuesday during a meeting on agricultural performance and government interventions at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The committee will develop a plan for implementing agricultural programmes and improve coordination among government agencies involved in food production.

The development was announced in a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President.

Shettima urged members to combine their expertise and develop a clear plan for implementing the proposed agricultural interventions.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the meeting reviewed challenges facing farmers and measures to expand wheat production and dry-season farming.

Kyari explained that President Bola Tinubu had directed the Vice President to identify and address obstacles to agricultural production, particularly those affecting year-round farming.

He added that the committee would coordinate relevant ministries, departments and agencies to develop recommendations for improving agricultural activities across the country.

According to the minister, the committee’s report would be reviewed by another committee before being submitted to the Vice President and subsequently to the President.

The committee comprises representatives of the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Water Resources and Sanitation, and Livestock Development, as well as agencies responsible for agricultural financing, research, mechanisation and production.

Other members include officials from the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, National Agricultural Land Development Authority, National Agricultural Seeds Council and National Agricultural Development Fund.

The committee will be coordinated by Marion Moon, Technical Adviser to the Vice President on Agriculture and Head of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit.

Moon stressed the need for stronger cooperation among federal, state and local governments, noting that better coordination would help align agricultural programmes and improve food production nationwide.