Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, on Friday renewed the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) to improve the livelihood of farmers across the country as well as enhance food security and create more jobs for the teeming youths.
Dr Abubakar told members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) led by its President, Alhaji Mudi Farouk to his office, in Abuja that it was in line with the diversification policy of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration from an oil-dependent economy to the agricultural sector.
The Minister stated that “the Ministry through its various departments and agencies was ready to give the necessary support to the Association to increase agricultural practices and productivity in Nigeria.”
He commended the Association for coming up with Farmers Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS) to cater for farmer’s health, securing pick up Tricycles, Double Cabin Vans and Minibuses with fully air conditioned, automatic tapping window glass and gear system strongly built to endure rugged terrains of the farms.
The Minister revealed that the use of tricycles by the smallholders farmers in the community across the country would ease the means of transportation, ensure that food and agro allied products arrives at the nearby market fresher and increase income of the farmers.
Dr Abubakar therefore, advised the association, on the need to train farmers to enhance their operations such as use of equipment effectively.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, FMARD, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe said that the Ministry was open and ready to work with AFAN especially in data generation, tractors loan and the Micro finance banks, pointing out that ‘’ there should be a synergy between the Association and the Ministry to boost the nation’s agricultural productivity’’.
Earlier, the President, AFAN, Alhaji Mudi Farouk said the purpose of their visit was to solicit for their direct involvement in the Ministry’s activities to be able to perform better. He highlighted AFAN’s achievements in the year to include; establishment of Micro Finance Bank in the name, “All Farmers and Women Micro Finance Bank”, provision of Tractors Loan to members, commencement of farmers data generation among others.
In a related development, the Minister also received the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President, on job creation, Mrs. Tilda Ndu Mmegwa.
The SSA said that the key objectives of the office, was to establish baseline of jobs created by each Agency from 2017 to Dec 31, 2021, based on the Agency’s job creation mandate in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017- 2020, and the new National Development Plan (NDP) 2021- 2025, coordinate the implementation of existing policies and initiatives on job creation amongst others.