By Boluwaji Obahopo

LOKOJA—The All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, has called on the President-elect, Gen. Muhammedu Buhari, rtd, to drive Nigeria economy on agriculture as a means of combating the dwindling fortunes from the oil sector.

The association Technical Advirser, Dr. Tunde Arosanyin who spoke in Lokoja yesterday during his working visit to the state said, agriculture remained the most vibrant option for the country which fortune has been going down due to its monolithic oil driven economy.

Arosayin said that Buhari would have to make this happen by making adequate budgetary allocations to the agricultural sector to it more attractive to farmers.

“General Buhari must ensure that the agricultural sector get the basic budgetary requirements. We must respect the 2003 Maputo Declaration which earmarked at least 10 percent of African countries annual budgets to agriculture as against the current 3.5 percent allocation to the sector such countries since we are signatory to it.

“The incoming administration must also make the sector attractive to the farmers. Farming must not only be a source of feeding but must be taken as serious business that stands to generate income for the country.