Farmers Seek Agric Investors’ Programmes To Boost Food Production

Some farmers in Bwari Area Council of the FCT, have advocated for more investors to initiate agricultural projects and programmes in the council’s communities, to boost food production.

Mr Baba Musa, a farmer and public servant, called for intervention programmes by both local and international agricultural investors to help improve and increase food production. Musa said that initiatives for agro-development should be visible in Bwari communities, where food production, for both commercial and personal purposes, was notable.

According to Musa, “We expect to see more of government sponsored projects, agricultural NGOs, or even United Nations programmes, like the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and many others. Some of our farmers’ cooperatives here may be enjoying small benefits like fertilisers and other farm inputs, but we need more than that, we need projects that will promote these cooperative societies and associations”.

He believes that “Programmes that will teach agriculture and good nutrition, conservation and management of the soil, as well as the initiation of microcredit loans to farmers, will be more beneficial to farmers. “Believe me, these will increase employment of young people and women, and also develop sustainable businesses, promote small and medium-sized enterprises in large commercial centres,” Musa said.

The farmers urged governments at all levels, including organisations and partners, to be unrelenting in providing free or subsidised inputs for farmers to boost production, as well as provide food security. Agriculture is one of the key sectors we have and we can’t be silent when it comes to developing it.