By Fatima Muraina
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Farmers have charged the Federal Government to put in place some measures to make its declaration of state of emergency on food security a success.
The farmers who spoke in separate interviews stated that the declaration of state of emergency was long overdue, calling on governments to be proactive and sincere in the implementation of policies in addressing food shortage.
Elder Fessy Olabode advised that a commodity board be put in place to ensure that farmers, buyers and other stakeholders are fairly priced in the market.
“So that when we have the board, excess of farm produce will be stored in the silos and would be brought out when there is scarcity so that the board, can serve as a regulatory body called price control in those days,” he said.
He said there is need for provision of fund, inputs and enlisting the interest of the youths .
Olabode added that areas of comparative advantage should be determined such that government can concentrate on.
He also raised the need to involve all stakeholders on modalities of implementing the acquired hectares as stated by the federal government.
According to Olabode, declaring a state of emergency on food security will give Nigerians enough concentration on the need to produce food in abundance rather than importation which he said should be cut down to the barest minimum.
The Ondo state Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria AFAN, Mr Abayomi Monilari said declaration of the state of emergency in food security could only be meaningful if government is more proactive and serious about the issue rather than politicising it.
” Farmers body should be involved in the execution and implementation of the state of emergency declared on food.
” They should be involved in the policy because they are the ones who know their problems and the solutions ,” he said.
He urged governments to address the issue of insecurity affecting farmers, saying that the effort will be fruitless if insecurity is not tackled which he said should be a joint effort.
He also pointed to the need for the provision of tractor and other agricultural inputs at subsidized rates.
