AFAN cries out over renewed insecurity in North-West

North-West Leaders of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) have appealed to the federal and state governments in the region for improved security and early distribution of inputs for the wet season farming.

This, they said, would strengthen food production, generate employment and boost the economy.

The host, Alhaji Nuhu Aminu, told newsmen in Zaria that an emergency meeting was convened over renewed insecurity challenges recently in the area.

He said the challenges being experienced in most parts of the area poised serious threat to the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu on food security.

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Aminu, therefore, appealed to key stakeholders in the security sector to provide novel approaches to ameliorate the challenges.

“Most of the vast arable lands in parts of Zamfara, Katsina, Northern Kaduna and other states in the zone are not accessible to our members,” Aminu said.

Similarly, the chairman appealed to the federal government to sustain the gains of its National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket (NAGS-P) initiative.

He said that the implementation of the initiative had been well handled and assisted many members of the association to scale up production during the last dry season farming.

“However, we are appealing to government for early distribution of inputs for 2024 wet season farming under NAGS-P initiative.”

Aminu said that early distribution of inputs for the 2024 wet season farming would enable the farmers to cultivate early and earn good harvests.

He said the campaign for food security and wealth creation should be backed with actions by policy makers and stakeholders.

“Early distribution of inputs to farmers will support the efforts of peasant farmers to achieve food security and wealth creation.

“We are already running late, this is May, and some farmers in the region have started planting. So, there is a need to quickly distribute inputs,” he said.