State and local governments in the country have been urged to commit more resources to the development of agriculture so as to sustain the current stability in the prices of staple food items.
The National Coordinator of Zero Hunger Nigeria, Dr Tunde Arosanyin gave the advise during an interview with newsmen in Lokoja at the weekend.
Arosanyin, an expert in agriculture urged state and local governments to quickly buy into federal government laudable agricultural policies and programmes and replicate in their areas of jurisdictions.
According to him, this will to prevent imminent food shortages scaring the country in the face.
He said with the huge monthly allocations accruing to them, states and local government have no excuses not to deliver in the area of agriculture.
According to him, states and local government should as a matter of fact commit between 10 per cent to 15 per cent of their resources to grow agriculture and make food available to citizens at affordable prices.
He explained that agriculture remains the best bet for the country to curb insecurity and provide jibs for youths.
Arosanyin, a former National Secretary of All Farmers Association of Nigeria said states and local governments can help by providing inputs like fertilisers, seedlings, herbicides, improved seedlings, insecticides and handheld farming tools to farmers in their localities at subsidized rates
The Agric Expert also urged states to provide training for farmers, introduce extension services and give them interest -free loans.
The National Coordinator of Zero Hunger Nigeria further advised state and local governments to provide enough land for farming, clear and prepare the land for at least 1,000 farmers in each of the 774 local governments in the country to boost food production.
He warned that the current stability in the prices of staple food items across the country cannot be sustained unless state and local governments wake up from their slumber and invest more in agriculture deliberately and intentionally.
According to him, the current crash in thee prices of food items was as a result of the release of grains from strategic food reserve facilities across the country by the federal government.
He said the release of food items from strategic grain reserves forced down the prices of foods at the detriment of farmers who he said recorded losses.
Arosanyin disclosed that over 50 per cent of country’s food reserve was released by the government to bring down the prices of food items.
He said the release of grains from the country’s strategic reserves in 2024 was necessitated by poor yield occasioned by inadequate rainfall and insecurity.
He then urged states to immediately engaged with farmers in their domains and provide them with necessary supports that will encourage and motivate them to do better in 2025.
Arosanyin said the strategic food reserve facilities need to replenished as soon as possible to avoid crisis in 2026.
According to him, farmers who recorded losses in 2024 as a result of poor yield caused by inadequate rainfall and food releases from strategic grain reserves also deserve to be compensated.
He called on states and local governments to complement efforts of the federal government by coming to the aid of the farmers by providing them financial assistance and other necessary supports.
Arosanyin lauded the Federal Government for the recent procurement of 4,000 tractors for the use of farmers nationwide.
He, however, urged government to guide against misuse of the tractors and ensure that only genuine farmers have access to them.
He said the purchase of the new tractors has reduce the ratio of 1,000 farmers to one tractor to 500 farmers to one tractor.
He was optimistic that the tractors if properly deployed will boost food production across Nigeria. (vitalnewsngr.com)
