By Amaechi Agbo 

Determined to boost wheat production in the country, the federal government will partner with foremost Nigerian wheat producer, Crown Flour Mill with a view to reducing wheat importation, enhance food security and nutrition as well as conserve scarce foreign exchange and create jobs.

 The minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono who dis loses the partnership on behalf of the federal governmentexpressed delight in the  interest shown by Crown Flour Mill (OLAM grains) to partner with the ministry to expand the production capacity of wheat in Nigeria.  

Nanono said the Ministry  has put in place deliberate measures to ensure the  increase in wheat production capacity including, the provision of  quality seeds and in the distribution of agricultural inputs to Nigerian farmers, adding that the ministry will support the group in its development efforts. 

The Minister made this known  during a courtesy visit by a delegation of the top management of the company led by its Corporate Affairs Manager, Ms.  Damilola Adeniyi to his office over the weekend  He said with the intervention by Crown Flour Mills  and other interventions such as those of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN), Transformation for Africa Agricultural Technologies (TAAT) and the Wheat Compact Project , Nigeria will experience a sustainable sufficiency in the local production of wheat In her remarks, the Corporate Affairs Manager of Crown Flour Mills, Ms Damilola Adeniyi , said that the purpose of the visit was to update the Minister on the group’s activities  and to seek collaboration with the Ministry to leverage on Nigeria’s wheat growing potentials by bringing in new seed varieties and modern technology to facilitate growth and expansion of wheat production in the country. 

Adeniyi said that the company plans to introduce the findings of a research trials it conducted recently on the cultivation of a heat tolerant variety of wheat. She expressed optimism that the process will boost local production of wheat, increase quantity and improve quality .

She also informed the minister that the Crown Flour Mills has been involved in various developmental efforts such as research and seed trials, capacity building in modern agricultural practices, distribution of inputs, etc. targeting smallholder wheat farmers and key players in the wheat production value chain 
As one of its corporate social responsibilities, Adeniyi, said the group is committed to the sustained training of Nigerian wheat farmers, provision of quality seeds for increased production and also in the patronage of their produce .