THE ROLE OF AFAN IN THE ATTAINMENT OF FOOD SECURITY IN NIGERIA... written by Engr. Akeju Olagbaju, former Director, FMARD/ Technical Adviser, Potato Farmers Association.

Introduction

The attainment of food security has been  a recurring promise by each  successive Governments  since 1999 and even before.This is a promise that is wanting but never fulfilled with all manners  of excuse.

In reality,the right to food and food security must be stepped up for citizens to earn decent respect and protection.

FOOD  SECURITY

The definition of food security is multi dimensional, however  all various Stakeholders agreed  to a definition that captured availability, accessibility, affordability, and importantly having nutritional value.Of recent the definition is also expanded to utility.

Nigeria is a blessed country with massive Agricultural land estimated to be 72 million hectares of which a little above 32 million  hectares are arable land for crops .It is a country with massive water  body both surface and underground estimated at over 300 billion cubic meter more than enough to cover the entire arable land for all year Irrigation. Good soil,favourable climate to produce different kinds of food and cash crops.There was a glorious era that the principal exports were agricultural commodities such as  cotton , groundnut, palm oil, cocoa beans and natural rubbers.

 Each of the then existing regions had different comparative advantage for production. The earnings from these were made possible by the Nigerian farmers to trigger the country's development.These Farmers  operated under various commodities association as well as cooperative groups.Their views were respected and their voice loud.And the regional governments worked with them.

The era of Federal Government entries and sharing responsibility  on Agriculture to some extent distorted the activities of these groups and as a remedy ,it gave rise to General Assembly of Farmers in the 1960s.It is important that there were power tussles on leadership   among the Commodity Associations but then credit  went to them for laying the ground work for the creation of today's AFAN is aimed at unifying farmers across the country.

AFAN PRESENT AND FUTURE

To understand the perspective ,role and relevance of AFAN to the attainment of national food security, it is important to examine its growth potential  as laid down by the founding leaders. The historical narrative available indicated that AFAN was a merger between the two formidable groups namely National Farmers Association of Nigeria (NAFAN) and Federation of Farmers Association of Nigeria ( FOFAN)

Chief Femi Coker is one of the most referenced leaders of NAFAN. According to a document from Osun Indigene, by October 2001, Chief Femi Coker was elected National President of NAFAN.  HE served as the “1st National President – Acting” of AFAN after the merger.

In a Daily Trust article (March 2014), as “AFAN National President, Dr. Femi Coker" led a stakeholders’ conference on value-chain issues.

 
The Board of Trustees leadership included: Vice-Admiral Murtala Nyako, Chief Femi Coker, and Dr. Shettima Mustapha.It is important  to note that this merger was driven by the political will of  President Olusegun Obasanjo in order to have a single, unified farmers’ body  base on the proposal submitted by the then Minister of Agriculture, Mallam Adamu Bello in 2003.Other key figures  that played significant  roles include:

The individual and collective contributions of Nyako, Adamu Abdullahi, late Dr. Shetima Mustapha ,Chief Femi Coker and numerous others  are well documented for further reading.It is also heart warming that the present leadership of AFAN is trying to sustain this legacy but the mitigating factor that could draw the hands of progress back must be quickly resolved in the general interests of farmers and the nation . There's no doubt that all those that played  or playing leadership role contribute to significantly to the growth of AFAN.

The future of AFAN  to discharge its primary responsibility and to hasten National Food Security in my opinion  is anchored on need fo structural transformation that rests on 3 pillars.

 
1.Reform on  Governing structure
2.Re defining the focus areas
3.Re alignment with Goverment policy .

Here's a recommended governing structure for AFAN to contribute to food security in Nigeria:

*AFAN Governing Structure:*

1. National Council: The highest decision-making body, comprising representatives from state chapters and expanded to cover affiliate Civil Society organizations.

2. The Executive Committee be made of elected members by the National Council, responsible for day-to-day operations and implementation of policies.

3. Secretariat:.It is amazing  that Afan is still operating with deficient  corporate  structure. This apparently contributed to low  interface  between Afan and Government A corporate structure or Secretariat headed by a Secretary-General who will be responsible for administrative and technical functions is imperative.

4. Technical Committees should  be drawn from pool of experts  to provide advisory support  on specific areas, such as:

-Crop Production

Livestock and Fisheries

Agricultural Marketing and Trade

Research and Extension

Policy and Advocacy

State and Local Chapters should  be organized  to provide responsible guidance and mobilize farmers  for implementation of Government programs and Policies.