The Nigerian Government has registered 5.7 million farmers across the country as part of measures to identify genuine farmers and grant them Government support directly,Minister Of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono has said.
Addressing the General Assembly Of Farmers organised by the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kano on Friday, Nanono explained that the registration is also designed to draw farmers closer to the Government.
A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Mr Hassan Musa-Fagge commended AFAN for organising the General Assembly of Farmers, urging the national leadership of the association to carry all their members along.
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje charged members of the association to redouble their efforts towards boosting economic development for national progress.
Ganduje, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf-Gawuna, called on the farmers to ensure that they make impact all over the country particularly through programmes aimed at improving agricultural activities.
Ganduje said:“The General Assembly of Farmers should be seen as an avenue for contributing to nation building and should be commensurate with the size of the membership strength of AFAN.
“As the farmers in this country constitute at least 70 per cent of the population,”.
He promised that the state government would continue to partner with farmers in the promotion of agricultural activities especially irrigation farming.
Ganduje added that his administration had introduced new technologies and ideas to prevent losses in the farming sector.
The Caretaker President of AFAN, Alhaji Faruk Rabi’u-Mudi, said the association has been re-organised from the grassroots to the national level.
According to Rabi’u-Mudi, the association has also embarked on the integration of the Commodity Associations into its structure.
He added that his leadership has distributed farm inputs worth over N100 million to farmers through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
“We have also acquired office accommodation at the Central Business District of Abuja, and we have also entered into partnership with a Chinese firm to invest in rice, soya beans and maize production.”
Highlights of the occasion include presentation of awards to President Muhammadu Buhari, Kano State Governor and his Deputy, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees Of AFANnan.
