A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Zero Hunger Nigeria, has called on governments at all levels to support farmers with subsidised input to boost food production in the country.
The National Coordinator of the NGO, Dr Tunde Arosanyin, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lokoja.
Arosanyin said that the Federal Government’s efforts to support farmers through subsidies were being undermined by the lack of synergy from state and local governments.
According to him, the Federal Government has already made efforts to support farmers, such as the recent distribution of 4,000 tractors, but more needs to be done to address the challenges facing farmers.
“State and local governments, which receive substantial allocations of resources, should prioritise supporting farmers with subsidised input, including tools, fertilisers, herbicides, and insecticides.
“The recent flood in some parts of the country has led to significant losses for farmers.
“So, the Federal Government’s decision to release grains from the Strategic Grain Reserves (SGR) helped cushion the effect of the crisis,” he said.
The national coordinator, however, said that the gesture by the Federal Government had a negative impact on farmers who had to sell their produce below the cost of production.
Arosanyin urged farmers and the media to put pressure on state and local governments to support farmers with input subsidies.
He also called for the employment of more agricultural extension officers to provide training and capacity-building programmes for farmers.
“Additionally, state and local governments should clear extensive farmland for farmers and provide them with tractorised systems,” he said.
The expert also proposed a blueprint for reducing insecurity through agriculture by identifying and supporting 1,000 farmers per local government area each year.
According to him, this initiative will not only improve food security but also create employment, reduce restiveness, and improve economic development, thereby reducing insecurity by 70 per cent.
“By supporting farmers with subsidised input and implementing robust agricultural programmes, state and local governments can play a critical role in boosting food production and reducing insecurity in Nigeria,” he said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)