5.7 million Nigerian Farmers on the Move
The Nigerian Government recently registered 5.7 million farmers across the 36 states in Nigeria as part of measures to identify genuine farmers and grant them Government support directly.This was made known by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono.
By Oscar ONOJIGHOFIA
While addressing the General Assembly of Farmers organised by the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kano,Nanono explained that the registration is designed to draw farmers closer to the Government.
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje charged members of the association to redouble their efforts toward boosting economic development for national progress.
Ganduje, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf-Gawuna, called on the farmers to ensure that they make impact all over the country particularly through programmes aimed at improving agricultural activities.
According to Ganduje:“The General Assembly of Farmers should be seen as an avenue for contributing to nation building and should be commensurate with the size of the membership strength of AFAN. Besides he noted that ” the farmers in this country constitute at least 70 per cent of the population,”.
The governor promised that the state government would continue to partner with farmers in the promotion of agricultural activities especially irrigation farming. He added that his administration has introduced new technologies and ideas to prevent losses in the farming sector.
Meanwhile, the Caretaker President of AFAN, Alhaji Faruk Rabi’u-Mudi, said the association has been re-organised from the grassroots to the national level. Accordingly he noted that the association has embarked on the integration of the Commodity Associations into its structure.
He equally noted that under his leadership the association has distributed farm inputs worth over N100 million to farmers through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. He noted that the association has also acquired office accommodation at the Central Business District of Abuja, and they have equally entered into partnership with a Chinese firm to invest in rice, soya beans and maize production.