AFAN to FG: Farmers need inputs in good time

ASHENEWS reports that the All Famers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), has called on the Nigerian government to provide farmers with farm inputs before the rains begin.

The Sokoto state chairman, Abdullahi Bankanu made the call during for the presentation of promotion and commendation letters to the staff of the Sokoto State Media Cooperation at the at Rima TV Complex in Sokoto on Wednesday.

Speaking exclusively on the side of the event with ASHENEWS, Bankanu said “Government should provide farm inputs, especially fertilizers, sprays and other inputs because Sokoto farmers are desirous of acquiring them before the raining season emerges.

“This is because there are some plants that require fertilized surface before they are planted. The state government should not always wait until deep into the rainy season before these inputs are provided for farmers,” he said.

Observing that insecurity had become a threat to food insecurity in the country, Bankanu said a good number of farmers were forced out of the farms, a situation, he said, that “required more efforts by governments in order to pave the way for farmers to return to their farms. Government should maximize its efforts to completely tame terrorism, which has hindered farmers to freely be on their farms.

“After insecurity, the concern of peasant farmers is fertilizer, pesticides, etc,” he said.

Bankanu called on government at all levels, and non-governmental organizations to collaborate AFAN in order to fully develop agricultural potentials across the country.

According to him, “the state governments should cooperate with the association in order to identify real farmers and have genuine farmers’ data.

“Government and other organizations should always follow the proper channel when extending support to the farmers. We know who the real farmers are. Through this cooperation, the state government can generate genuine data which could help in proper planning for farmers.

“AFAN as an association has the undiluted list of accredited and old age farmers across the state,” he said.