Meet AfDB president, Agro dealers tell new Agric Minister

The national president of the Nigeria Agro Input Dealers Association (NAIDA), Alhaji Kabiru Fara has advised the new minister of Agriculture Dr. Mohammad Mohmood Abubakar, to seek the opinion of the current President, African Development Bank (AfDB) Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina on how to quickly put back on track the failing food system in the country using the template of Growth Enhancement Support (GES) of inputs distribution to farmers.

Alhaji Fara said this in a chat with Food Farm News over the weekend from his Kano residence, saying the former minister; Alhaji Sabo Nanono lacked direction and necessarily focussed capacity to strengthen food security system in the country.

Fara who lamented the high prices of food in the country which he attributed to none timely provision of inputs to farmers, stressed that  ‘’ We will like the new minister of agriculture to discuss with the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) so as to tap into his wealth of experience and knowledge on food security matters’’

He, therefore, promised the association’s support to the development of agriculture towards ensuring food security, just as he emphasized on the achievement of Growth Enhancement Support (GES) saying the model had worked very well for farmers and agro-dealers in the past without a hike in the price of food as inputs are timely delivered ahead of planting seasons.

The Agro inputs president, therefore, called upon the new minister to critically understudy the challenges of the sector with the view to be able to address some of the basic issues confronting the sector as a way  forward saying that ‘’Our expectation from the new minister is to quickly put back the  Agric ministry as stated by Mr. President.  There are laudable programs that can immediately touch the lives of farmers towards ensuring food security like provision of affordable inputs to farmers starting with the dry season farming. How much is CBN paying on Anchor Borrowers Program that might not be paid back? If you use just N60 billion for subsidy, it's not too much for the Federal Government through GES.  We had a list already as they can get another control centre from some of those companies that served before like the Cellulant to update their list of farmers for quick action to distribute farm inputs nationwide. Many people will bring in their applications to participate as banks will be willing to assist in the dry season coming December-January towards bumper harvest in this country’’