….urges farmers to unite under AFAN

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – THE All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, yesterday, urged the Federal Government and development partners on timely release of interventions to farmers in order to boost food production in 2026.

Speaking with Vanguard, the National President, AFAN, Mohammed Magaji, said farmers have been experiencing delayed interventions that turns out to be off the farming season they needed them.

Magaji also said that stakeholders in the agric space are giving their support to ensure in 2026 food is adequately produced, accessed and afforded.

According to him, the former Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr Abdullahi Adamu, has thrown his weight behind AFAN leadership to rally farmers on massive food production in 2026.

He said: “There are a number of interventions from government that come at the late hour to the farmers when they do not need them due to the seasonal farming they embark on. 

“But this time around, I believe with the leadership of this great Association, of course, and other farmers and other stakeholders, we will do our best to see that the interventions come at the appropriate time from the federal, state and local government authorities to our farmers.”

Meanwhile, the new AFAN leadership assured that every farmer irrespective of their size of agricultural output will get the interventions.

“So with this, I believe we will do our best, and also make sure the farmers get what they are supposed to get, both the small, medium, and large-scale farmers.

“They will get these interventions from both the Bank of Agriculture, National Agricultural Development Fund, NADF, and other intervention agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Foreign Minister of Agriculture.”

He further stated that one of the major problems frustrating farmers is poor access to markets including high cost of farm inputs, and promised that the new AFAN leadership will address the challenges.

“We are going to get market for them and it is very important. But number one, if you give farmer input at a very good price he will make profit, and secondly, get a market for him to sell his produce. 

“We have a number of suggestions and proposals that we are going to implement next year so that the farmers will not cry anymore”, he added. 

Meanwhile, he (Magaji) also called on aggrieved members of AFAN to unite with the new leadership of the Association, which he said he is going to ensure all farmers work together.