“Why farmers safety must be fed. govt. top priority”

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigerian government has been reminded of the danger of de-prioritizing the security of farmers, saying its better to pay more attention to the  security of farmers than on developmental projects.

The President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria(AFAN), Kabir Ibrahim, in a release said to avert the looming food crisis threatening the nation, the government needs to increase support and motivation to the Security forces to stem the tide of insecurity and to invest more in Mechanization, Science and Technology in order to upscale agricultural production.

Stating that it has become most appropriate for the government to pay more attention to the security and protection of farmers who produce the food needed for day to day living now than embarking on developmental projects.

He said its better now than never for the government to sit up and restructure its strategy on security than continue to embark on blame game and allow hunger to take strong root and destabilize the nation.

The challenge faced in achieving food sufficiency in the country today is not but insecurity in the North East principally perpetrated by the Boko Haram insurgents as well as banditry and kidnappings in the North West by criminal elements among cattle farmers.

AFAN he said is most concerned owing to the fact that scores of farmers are being abducted from their farms either for ransom or killed.

It is most worrisome according to AFAN that farmers are made to pay ransom to the bandits to be able to go to their farms and harvest their produce.

Regreated that insurgency in the North East has remained with the country for the past 11 years and banditry in the North West that has gained traction in nearly 5 years.

The AFAN President said, “The recent slaying of farmers in the North Eastern State of Borno is very troubling and calls for decisive measures from the security agencies to stop this massacre.

“A few days ago we woke up to find out that about 43 of our members were slaughtered like rams on their farms.

“Due to this development it is now exceedingly difficult to get the farmers to readily go to their farms in several parts of the country.

Residents gather over attack by Boko Haram in Borno

“The farmers in an area such as the North West which is predominantly agrarian are completely devastated and cannot go to their farms located a few Kilometres from Urban Centres for fear of being kidnapped or killed.

“It is so bad that the farmers are forced to pay ransom to the bandits to be able to harvest their produce.

Ibrahim sounded it clear that the possibility of attaining food sufficiency in Nigeria from the foregoing seems elusive as the regions where these criminalities are taking place have the vast arable land for food production.

Stating that its ironical that many African countries including Nigeria are relying on this same large Small Holder Farmer(SHF) population who are being traumatized by the endless killings and kidnappings daily for their food production.