The national president of the Potato Farmers Association of Nigeria (POFAN), Mr Daniel Okafor, has called for the establishment of a security outfit for farmers to combat incessant killings by herders and bandits.
Okafor made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
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He said the recent increase in the high cost of food items was as a result of farmers not going to farms as they should because of the activities of herders and bandits.
“We have lost some of our farmers while they were working on their farms – men, women and youths.
“This is impacting negatively on production and economic growth,” he said.
He also said there was the need to train farmers on security tips, as well as intensify training on agricultural best practices to improve production.
Okafor appealed to the federal government to make a special budget for farmers to boost production, especially considering the effect of COVID-19. (NAN)
