Agric show: AFAN, FACAN complain about structural challenges

 

The two apex bodies of farmers and commodity associations of Nigeria have both expressed dissatisfaction on structural default for food productivity.

The representatives of All Farmers Association of Nigeria ( AFAN) Architect Kabiru Ibrahim and President, Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations ( FACAN) Alhaji Sherif Balogun have both said tthis at the agric show on Tuesday at Tundunwada, Nazarawa state where they stated that government must do more in the provision of modern technologies and efficient facilities that would enhance food productivity.

Ibrahim expressed the suffering of small scale farmers with what he described as persistent production bottleneck hindering food security and agric business competitiveness as high inputs cost, limited access to mechanization, weak extension services and inconsistent government policies that deterred the sector's development even at many intervention programs.

He said further that farmers are willing and ready to embark on food production , but added that the system must support them with affordable inputs and structural availability.

" We need affordable inputs, stable policies and an enabling environment. Remove the bottleneck, and Nigeria will not only feed itself but become a major exporter" said Ibrahim.

Similarly, FACAN president, Alhaji Sherif Balogun urged the government to prioritize logistics and value chains development facilities pointed at poor road network, post harvest losses, and multiple taxation as vices impeding agric business operators.

He argued that Nigeria cannot diversify its economy through agriculture without first addressing the inefficiencies against the  production costs with limited market access.

According to Balogun “ Farmers and commodity traders are losing billions every year due to avoidable constraints. We need reforms that streamline the movement of goods from farms to processing centres and markets" 

He advised that FG must work with states to harmonise taxes, improve transport infrastructure, and boost storage facilities.