Sokoto is under food security threat, says Governor, calls for solutions

 

The Governor of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu has hinted the Federal Government ( FG)  about the negative impacts of banditry and agro inputs diversion in the state on farmers' food productivity.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu expressed his concern over food insecurity in the state during his visit last week to the minister of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security ( FMAFS) as he printed a pathetic situation whereby farmers are subjected to seek permission from bandits before they could have access to their farms.

Aliyu frowned at the manners of Agricultural inputs meant for farmers  being diverted into wrong hands thereby expressed the need for proactive solutions through synergy with other states, traditional rulers and FG for effective security mobilization in the region plus the use of digitalization of farmers' data to ensure inputs accountability.

The Governor proffered establishing a police committee in collaboration  with ministries of education and digital economy to identify genuine farmers for government inputs' subsidy saying there are instances of fertilizer diversions in the state.

Aliyu lamented the security challenges faced by farmers, emphasizing the need for security personnel to escort them to their farms as he decried the situation where farmers must seek permission before accessing their farmlands is very appalling.

The Agric minister, Sen. Abubakar Kyari expressed optimism for a strong partnership with the states to ensure food security and agricultural development, stressed that data integrity, inventory of irrigable lands, and functional irrigation infrastructure in the upcoming dry/wet seasons farming for rice, maize, and cassava cannot be over emphasized.

He pointed on the need for collaboration with states, local governments, traditional rulers, NGOs, and relevant agencies to transparently distribute agro-inputs and target genuine farmers.

The minister reassured Governor Sokoto of the federal government's commitment to supporting farmers, acknowledging the challenges farmers face in accessing agro-inputs.