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By Chinyere Anyanwu
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos State Chapter and South-West Zone Chairman, Dr. Femi Oke, has expressed optimism that friendly policies and climate conditions in 2023 would increase food production.
Oke said this in Lagos on Thursday, while speaking on the Association’s expectations for 2023. He said that farmers were expecting more friendly policies from the government this year.
“We expect better policies from the government than last year and what we experienced in 2021, especially in the area of flooding and COVID-19.
“With the signing of the 2023 budget into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, we hope that the incoming government will fully implement it. We hope for a better year for us, especially for us farmers and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
Oke urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and registered agricultural associations, including AFAN, for more openness.
“Most of the programmes implemented by the government are okay but when it comes to agriculture, we want the CBN to be autonomous.
“The CBN should not be dealing directly with farmers, the bank should work closely with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and notable associations in the sector.
“The CBN should not be dealing with selected farmers only or based on commodities; every farmer needs government support and intervention.
“We want the CBN to give more power to the Ministry of Agriculture so that they can work closely with them on government programmes and policies,” he said.
Oke urged the Federal Government to create the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Food Security to proffer solutions to the mirage of challenges confronting food security.
He said the office of the special adviser on food security would address issues and policies regarding food shortage, inflation and availability of food, among others.
“We also want the office of the Special Adviser to the President on food security to be created to reduce bottlenecks in the Ministry of Agriculture.
“The office of food security will work directly with the presidency to address issues regarding food security we are having in the country.
“I believe all these suggestions, if well implemented, will have a positive impact on the sector in the new year. In 2023, we pray for a good climate condition in order to have availability of food.
“We are hoping that 2023 will be better than 2022 and even 2021. We can only pray that the climate condition is favourable, especially for us farmers,” he added.
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