Stakeholders implore FG to prioritise delivery of farm inputs.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has been urged by presidents of commodity associations and agricultural stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to prioritize and support the purchase and distribution of farm inputs at subsidized rates to large, medium, and small-scale farmers.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on the topic of “Transforming Nigeria’s Agricultural Sector: The Way Forward,” the stakeholders stated that a number of issues, including low productivity and insufficient budgetary allocation, had caused setbacks in the agriculture industry.

According to Dr. Austine Maduka, the National Support Group’s South East Coordinator, and Mohammed Gettado, the National Publicity Secretary of All Farmers Association (AFAN), Nigeria’s agriculture sector has the capacity to generate enough food to feed the country’s rapidly growing population.

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They reiterated the necessity of stepping up and fortifying cooperation with development partners, donor organizations, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank (AFDB), among other organizations.

The groups also demanded the creation of the Ministry of Livestock in order to highlight the significant social and economic advantages that result in harmonious cohabitation and improved standards of living.

“We propose that the ministry direct all funds recovered from anchor borrowers to the BoA.

As the primary source of employment in the nation and a significant source of foreign exchange earnings, Nigeria’s agriculture sector “has strong potential to provide adequate food for an increasing population by supplying raw materials to a growing industrial sector,” according to the associations.

The National Walnut Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, the Arewa Grassroot Farmers Processors Association, the National South-South Hum National Support Group, the Okro Farmers and Marketers Association of Nigeria, the Cassava Growers Association (NCGA), the National Walnut Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, the Tomatoes and Orchard Producers Association of Nigeria, and the National Association of Sorghum Producers, Processors and Marketers of Nigeria are among the commodity associations.