Agro Dealers Launch Monitoring Team to Chechmate Sharp Practices 

The Nigeria Agro Input Dealers Association, NAIDA, has launched a Compliance Monitoring Team on Agricultural Input Distribution and Sales in Nigeria to checkmate adulteration and sharp practices which shortchange consumers.

The Lauch is coming at the backdrop of accusations and public outcry of sharp practices leveled against agro-inputs dealers in the country.

The job of the monitoring team is to monitor and ensure that dealers play by the rules and get only standard quality products and produce to both farmers and consumers.

Speaking at the Launch event, the President of NAIDA Mr. Kabir Fara said constituting a monitoring team is in line with the Association’s mandate, which is to make quality agricultural inputs available and accessible to Nigerians.

“As the title of this launching/inauguration implies, NAIDA is living up to its mission statement which is to make quality agricultural inputs available, accessible and affordable to farmers in Nigeria with a view to increasing their well-being and ensuring food security for all in the country”

He said “The inauguration of this team in all the 36 States/FCT will no doubt facilitate and ultimately create an enabling environment for sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria and our Association will be a body to always reckon with on designing and implementing sustainable agricultural policies through advocacy, provision of accurate agro input information, output marketing and private extension services in collaboration with relevant stake holders”

Culpable Dealers
While acknowledging that there are culpable dealers out there, Mr Fara said It was pertinent note that the outcries by the public on the dubious attitudes of agro dealers particularly with regards to adulteration of agric inputs, round tripping of products especially fertilizer might have been a bit exaggerated.

Fara noted that following the Association’s meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security were he expressed anxiety over the conduct of Agro dealers in the just concluded dry season wheat program concerning round tripping of fertilizer the association swung into action and upon investigations it was discovered that the allegations on the round tripping were more of rumors.

AFAN
On his part, the President of the All Farmer’s Association of Nigeria AFAN, Architect Kabir Ibrahim, also speaking, commended NAIDA for its efforts in ensuring that quality agricultural inputs to farmers.

A move Architect Kabir said would further boost agricultural productivity in the country and support the drive for Food Security.

MAAN
The President of the Maize Association of Nigeria, MAAN), Dr. Abubakar Bello, in his goodwill message, said setting up a monitoring team was a move in the right direction it’s important that Nigerian farmers get only quality inputs in order to produce enough food for the nation.

Dr. Bello added that the move would also boost the credibility of Agro input dealers in the country.

Shakirat Sadiq