Create market for maize, farmers tell govt

Alhaji Tsoho Kargi, a farmer in Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Monday, urged governments at all levels to create a ready market for maize.

Kargi made the call while fielding questions with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria on the challenges of maize farmers in the country.

Kargi was a former member of the House of Representatives (PDP Ikara/Kubau 2007-2011) and a two-term State Assembly member (PDP Ikara 1999-2007).

He appealed to the three tiers of government to urgently address the plight of the farmers.

The former legislator noted that grassroots maize farmers were selling a 50 kg bag of maize below the price of a 50 kg bag of fertiliser.

“I want government to critically look at this problem and proffer lasting solution to it, with a view to boosting the morale of maize farmers for the good of the nation.

“You can imagine where a farmer sells a bag of maize at the peak of the price for just between N3,900 and N4,000, while a bag of NPK and Urea go for N5,000 and N4,700, respectively.

“Maize has become a common food not only in Nigeria but across the West African sub-region, hence the need to give it the necessary priority it deserves.”

He advised the Federal Government to encourage local production of maize to stopping the importation of same.

“This is a worrisome development to all Nigerian farmers because we are supposed to rely on government to effectively do our business, but this is not so in maize farming.

“We want to strongly appeal to government to reverse the trend as Nigerian maize farmers are ever ready to feed not only the nation but also to export it,” Kargi assured.

Creating market, according to him, will not only encourage the farmers to put in more efforts in the farming business, but it will also boost the revenue base of both the farmers and government.

Kargi urged farmers across the country to support the present administration to enable it to deliver the dividends of democracy. (NAN)