Small Scale Agro-Producers in Nigeria want increased Agricultural Investments

The Association of Small Scale Agro-Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN) has appealed to the federal and state governments to direct at least 60 per cent of agricultural investments in budgets and intervention facilities to smallholder farmers and small scale agribusinesses.

The Executive Director, ASSAPIN, Bauchi State, Hajiya Amina Bala Jibrin, made the appeal during the official launching of the ‘Influencing Strategy, Farmers Manifesto and Commitment Pledge’ in Bauchi.

The call was made in view of the persistent poor access by many small scale farmers to various funds for agricultural development in the country.

“Agriculture is the largest employer of labour in the country and deserves better funding to attract more investors to create employment and ensure food security.

“Over 70 per cent of Nigerians are engaged in agriculture, and many of them don’t even have access to fertilizers and labour-saving equipment. The small-scale farmers are more vulnerable.

“In the light of this and in view of the continuous nose-diving nature of budgetary allocations to the agriculture sector in the past few years, there should be visible efforts to increase allocation to the sector in line with the Maputo/Malabo commitments,” she said.

Also, Jibrin urged governments at all levels to construct more rural infrastructure, especially roads from farming communities to markets to ease movement of farm produce.

According to her, agriculture extension services delivery should be reformed to reduce the wide extension agent-to-farmer ratio, among others.

“The reforms involve the restructuring of the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) as well as training and increasing the number of extension agents in the country,” she added.

On his part, the Bauchi State Head of Civil Service, Adamu Yahuza Haruna, assured of the government’s support for farmers in the state.

Source: Agro Nigeria