By Stanley Ihedigbo, Lagos
Nigerian government has assured its full support to the All Farmers Association of Nigerian, AFAN, as Farouk Mudi emerges as the new National President.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muhammad Nanono gave the assurance while speaking at the three-day General Assembly of Farmers (GAF 2021) in Kano last Tuesday.
Congratulating the new AFAN president, the minister, while assuring of his ministry’s support in order to make sure he succeed, said that the federal government have good plans for Nigeria farmers, because of the important role they play in the country.
Responding, Mudi commended the minister for his tremendous achievements and his support to the farmers and also commended farmers for attending GAF 2021.
He said that it had became necessary for farmers to take action if Nigeria should achieve food security within secured environment.
“Going by its mandate, AFAN is instrumental to effective delivery of farmer support by government over the years, whereby its policy advocacy and influencing roles are germane to greater availability, accessibility and affordability of farm inputs to its members.
“There is therefore the need for governments at all levels to partner with AFAN more closely for effective delivery of farmer support services in Nigeria.
“For food security to be achieved in Nigeria, there should be a policy imperative to ensure peace and security in the country. Thus, Federal and state governments, in collaboration with various security agencies should develop various mechanisms and organize dialogues, in order to identify those sponsoring insurgency and banditry for prosecution and appropriate punishments.
“Other policy imperatives emerged specifically for facilitating the delivery of farmer support services in the country. In policymaking for agricultural development by both federal and state governments, whereby the state governments take primary responsibility for agricultural development in their respective jurisdictions, while the federal government intervenes within the constitutional boundaries set for it in the area of agricultural research, promotion and financing” only and the adoption of food as a fundamental right of the people together with legal baking for its implementation”, Mudi stated.
He appealed to the federal government to encourage and support ranch system of livestock production in order to improve the livelihood of rural farmers.
The National President cited some few achievements, he recorded while serving as caretaker President which are, establishment of headquarters, distribution of farm inputs to the tune of N100 million, establishment of Microfinance; partnership with Chinese firm to invest billions of dollars in farming in Nigeria.
The chairman of Board of Trustees (BOT) of AFAN, Murtala Nyako, represented by Senator Bello Gada commended Mudi as an achiever and a hardworking man who will revive the group from redundancy to activeness.
The newly elected AFAN executive members are, Deputy National President 1, Olusegun Dasolu (Ogun), Deputy National President 2, Confidence Mac-Eteli (Bayelsa), National General Secretary, Mr. Yunusa Halidu (FCT), Assistant National Secretary, John Olatero (Oyo) and National Treasurer, Adebayo Ayodele (Kwara).
