The Federal Government says it will continue to support farmers and the farming community as they continue to contribute to the economic growth and development of the country. The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, said this at the unveiling of the National Agricultural Sample Census (NASC) 2022 in Abuja. Bagudu said reports show that Nigeria is blessed with an agricultural populace of about 40.2 million households who are proud to identify themselves as such. He said the biggest key to sustained economic growth is to ensure that the 40.2 million households are continuously supported, so that they can perform better. Bagudu added that 'Nigeria is blessed with an agricultural populace who are proud to identify themselves as such. They are proud to be farmers and fishing communities. 'That has a significant effect on absorptive capacities. That means they are people who are happy to engage and support production in that area of our national life. They are not aiming to migrate to other cities, they are very proud. 'That means we need to continuously calibrate our deliverance structure so we support them to generate more returns for what they are proud to do, by contributing to our national productivity and output. 'All of them are looking for support to continue to do what they enjoy doing, and to contribute to our national prosperity. That we promise the renewed Hope Agenda will continue to deliver on.' The Statistician-General of the Federation, Mr Adeyemi Adeniran, said that for over two and half decades, the absence of comprehensive data on Nigeria's agricultural sector had been a significant barrier to progress. Adeniran, the CEO, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said the gap limited the ability of policymakers, investors and stakeholders to make informed decisions that are critical to the sector's growth, and overall food security in Nigeria He, however, noted that 'the conduct of the 2022 NASC exercise, the first of its kind in over 27 years, marks a turning point. ' With over 65 per cent of the population directly or indirectly dependent on the agriculture sector for their daily sustenance, the NASC results offer invaluable insights into the very foundation of our agricultural sector.' He said the report provides detailed picture of the size and structure of farm holdings, land use patterns and crop production practices, livestock population and fisheries activities and the use of agricultural inputs and technologies. He explained that 'by understanding the current state of agriculture, we can design targeted policies and programmes to address issues related to food security, promote sustainable agricultural practices and enhance overall productivity. 'It will also assist in attracting much-needed private sector investment into the agricultural landscape. The data will equip investors with the confidence and knowledge required to make informed decisions regarding agricultural ventures in Nigeria.' On his part, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agricultu re and Food Security, said the most significant thing about the data is that 'government can now measure, and whatever you can measure, you can manage.' Abdullahi said results from the NASC would make the management of the agricultural sector robust, 'which is exactly what we hope to achieve under the Renewed Hope Agenda. 'Having seen what the report is telling us, we have a clear picture of the number of people we should be targeting when we are going to provide support in terms of necessary inputs, seed and fertiliser, among others. 'I want to assure Nigerians that with this key fundamental information, the ministry will begin to do robust management and work round the clock to reverse the current trends.' Representative from the World Bank, Mr Vimai Vntukura, said the bank would continue to provide technical support to existing projects in Nigeria and hoped that this kind of data-driven exercise would be scaled up in the future. Sen. Abdullahi Yahaya, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Planning and Eco nomic Development, said economies are driven by demand, noting that 'there will be a problem if there are no connections between production and industrial usage. 'I hope the report has data on agricultural processes and industrial end users because without stimulation of demand from those sectors, we will end up not creating the kind of yields that are viable.' Mr Tope Fasua, the Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Office of the Vice-President, said urban agriculture should be encouraged, which would help to reduce inflation now and in the future. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that census is expected to be carried out every five to 10 years, in line with the standard set by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for developing countries. However, the last round of census carried out in the country is that of 1993/1994. The census was carried out by the NBS in partnership with the World Bank, FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Source: News Agency of N igeria