ActionAid and other stakeholders have called on the Federal and state governments to promote insurance for smallholder farmers across the country to mitigate agricultural risks threatening farmers.
They also asserted that the challenges that are posing threat to farmers’ lives and crop production are floods, droughts, fires, pests and diseases, cattle destruction of farms, rising insecurity in farms and kidnappings.
The statement gave the advice in a communiqué issued in Abuja at the end of the Non-State Actors, NSAs, Post National Dialogue and Dissemination on Nigeria’s Performance at the 3rd Biennial Review, BR. The exercise is on the Implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, CAADP.
It was gathered that the dialogue is organised by ActionAid Nigeria, AAN to provide information and capacity for Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, Smallholder Women Farmers, SWOFON and media networks to better engage the post 3rd BR process and emerging policy issues. It also communiqué observed that farms were abandoned due to security threats and natural disasters.
According to the stakeholders, making farms safe and funding agricultural mechanisation will not only create more food but also jobs to engage restless youths that have turned to crime for a living.
