By Abubakar Yunusa
The groups of Farmers under the aegis of Youth and Women Farmers and critical commodity Association has urged the Federal government to to diverts a great percentage of the proceeds gained from the withdrawal of fuel Subsidy to the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) to foster sustainable agricultural practices and enhance food security in the country.
The association also lauded Tinubu’s administration took the bold and laudable decision to withdraw fuel Subsidy,we commended him for the right decision he made.
Addressing journalists at the press conference in Abuja ,yesterday ,the National president of the Nigeria Young Farmers Network,Dr. Alhaji Abubakar Bamai Musa said recognizing the critical role agriculture plays in our nation’s economy,it is imperative that we invest in its long term sustainability.
He said “The diversion of the fuel subsidy payments to the National Agricultural Development Fund will enhance agricultural productivity, promote technological advancement and improve the livelihoods of Farmers across the country.
“The fund redirected from subsidies will be allocated towards various key initiatives within the agricultural sector such as Research Development, Farmers support programs, Infrastructural development, Agricultural extension programs and Agribusiness Development.
“We believe that this decision will contribute significantly to the realization of our agricultural potential,food security,rural development and economic diversification.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that Nigeria’s agricultural sector thrives,by providing sustainable livelihoods for young farmers and contributing to the overall economic growth of our nation.
“Our Women and young farmers going by the records are more than 50 percent of the population in various commodity associations and as an umbrella of women and young farmers,we have more than 100 registered active associations under us and it should be taken seriously by the federal government.”
He said if part of the scrapped fuel Subsidy is allocated to them,it will go a long way in providing food stabilization in Nigeria as we also foresee great potential on food export as opposed to food import in those great nations.
The association, however, called on relevant stakeholders, private sector organizations,civil society groups,and individuals to support and collaborate in the effective implementation of this redirection of funds .
