By Fatima Muraina
|
Farmers have called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint agricultural experts that will implement his policies on agriculture to meet the target of food surplus and affordability.
In separate reactions on the President’s inaugural speech on agricultural sector, the Ondo state Chairman of Agricultural Commodities Association OSACA, Mr Gbenga Obaweya and the state All Farmers Association of Nigeria AFAN, including Farmers Congress, Mr Abayomi Monilari, described the President’s policy on agriculture as a welcome development which would improve lives of the farmers.
They added, that such policies would also relieve the citizenry of high cost of food items.
Obaweya urged President Tinubu to appoint those who are passionate about agriculture to ensure the implementation of his policies as stated in his speech.
He observed that previous administration also have good plans for the sector on paper, but that implementation was usually the greatest challenge.
“It is a political dispensation and most people that will be spotted are going to be people that had in one way or the other invested in the political advancement, but we urged him to among them, choose from other technocrats and endeavour to put round peg in a round hole,” he said.
He also charged President Tinubu to also show personal interest in the agricultural sector to monitor what is going on, saying agriculture is supposed to take over from the oil sector.
Also, the state Chairman of AFAN, Mr Abayomi Monilari expressed satisfaction on the agricultural policies, saying it would be a friendly administration to better the lots of farmers and Nigerians in particular.
His words: “With the policy, the farmers are going to benefit and the nation”.
It seems as if he wants to adopt what Awolowo’s regime did and it pays so much for the western region”.
“As a farmer, a leader and a stakeholder, his plan to establish agricultural hubs all over the country is a welcome idea, I support.
According to Monilari, the new system he plans on cattle rearer to avoid them clashing with farmers, if implemented, will give both the rich and the poor sense of belonging which would make Nigeria great.
