Association Lauds President Buhari’s Agriculture programmes
Forum for Agricultural Commodity Presidents has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s Agricultural Programmes, saying the policies have recorded great successes and ensured food sufficiency.
Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Umar Sadiq, gave the commendation when he led some members of the group on a visit to Gov. Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, to solicit the support of the incoming administration for farmers.
Sadiq said the association was on the visit to congratulate the All Progressives Congress (APC) family, and ask for government’s commitment to agriculture, and by extension, commodity associations.
He said; “The programmes initiated by President Buhari are laudable, and have touched the lives of many Nigerians.”
According to him, the Anchor Borrowers Programme has recorded 52 per cent success, as reported by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He therefore, urged for continuity of the programme, which he maintained had touched the lives of many Nigerians and lifted many more out of extreme poverty.
“The programme has made Nigeria to be number one producer of rice and other commodities from Africa, and we can say that we are now food sufficient,” Sadiq said.
He therefore, appealed to the incoming administration to look into the plight of farmers with the commencement of the 2023 farming season.
According to him, “the association is planning a roundtable discussion where all agricultural practitioners would come together to produce an implementable blueprint for commodity associations in Nigeria.”
In his response, Governor Bagudu said Nigeria was blessed with proactive commodity associations, so it was important that they united to achieve food sufficiency.
The governor commended President Buhari for believing in agriculture.
According to him, “the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme had recorded many successes because it enabled Nigerians to believe in themselves by growing what they eat, and eating what they grow, instead importing food.”
He appealed to commodity associations to speak with one voice.
The Governor also appealed to the association to ensure its members respected all contracts entered into with government and not see the interventions as free money that could be spent recklessly.
NAN/ Mercy Chukwudiebere
