From David Hassan, Gombe
Amid growing concerns over food security across Nigeria, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently intervene by restoring targeted agricultural support programs and providing farmers with affordable, accessible farm inputs.
Speaking in Gombe, the Chairman of AFAN in Gombe State, Mr. Modibbo Sadeeq Ahmad Nafada, called on the government to take decisive action to strengthen food security, boost agricultural productivity, generate employment, and lower the high cost of living.
Nafada emphasized that the Federal Government should reconsider reviving the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) program as a strategic tool to support smallholder farmers and reinforce the nation’s agricultural value chain.
“This appeal is not motivated by personal interest or the desire to promote one program at the expense of others.
“Rather, it is driven by the conviction that a sustainable agricultural intervention must place farmers’ needs at the center while protecting the legitimate interests of agro-dealers, input suppliers, and other participants in the value chain,” Nafada stated.
He highlighted that smallholder farmers—who form the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural sector—continue to face severe obstacles, including skyrocketing costs for fertilizers, improved seeds, crop protection products, and transportation.
“For many farmers, the challenge is not a lack of willingness to cultivate the land.
“It is the difficulty of obtaining the right inputs, in the right quantities, at affordable prices, and at the appropriate time in the farming season.
“When farmers cannot afford essential inputs, their production suffers, leading to reduced nationwide output and higher food prices,” he stated.
Nafada urged the Federal Government to swiftly restore effective input distribution channels, build practical solutions that work directly for local farmers, and safeguard local agro-dealers to achieve measurable results in national food production.
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