The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has urged the Federal Government to set up a joint committee to monitor and ensure the smooth and equal distribution of palliatives to beneficiaries across all states.
AFAN’s Chairman in Lagos State and South-West Zone, Dr Femi Oke, said in Lagos on Tuesday that there was an urgent need to set up the committee.
Oke said that the release of five billion Naira to state governors for procurement and distribution of palliatives to citizens required adequate monitoring to prevent diversion and ensure accountability.
It would be recalled that, on Augus 17, the Federal Government, announced that its approval of five billion Naira for each of the 36 states of the federation for procurement of food items and fertilisers as part of efforts to alleviate sufferings associated with fuel subsidy removal in the country.
Oke said they are looking to set up a committee comprising federal, state and local government representatives to monitor the implementation.
He said, “That is what we are thinking, and we believe that in every state, our governors should also form a committee to include community leaders, traditional rulers and religious heads, to monitor the implementation process.
Oke also noted that most farmers live in villages, which are closer to the local government areas. Therefore, for practical purposes, they are best suited to identify farmers and vulnerable persons within their communities.
“As of today, everybody is vulnerable. There is nobody that you will ask today that is not feeling the impact of the fuel subsidy removal, Oke said.
He also told newsmen that the association also advise on fairness in the distribution of the palliative to every Nigerian citizen.
He said, “The committee should be set up appropriately by bringing together agricultural commodity associations’ heads in communities as well as traditional leaders to form a comprehensive committee.”
Oke urged the new minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, to focus on smallholder farmers since they formed the greater percentage of farmers.
The AFAN chairman said that smallholder farmers contributed much to food production and food security in the country and should be empowered.
He urged the minister to support smallholder farmers with finance, inputs, mechanisation, solar-powered irrigation system and new technologies.
“The minister has spoken well in his inaugural speech to tackle hunger, and we believe he will implement all the things we have highlighted above,” he said.
