Farmers under the auspices of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) say they are dissatisfied with the federal government ‘s proposal to spend N13.9bn on the country’s pest control.
On June 12, the government had approved a N13.9 billion pest control intervention fund for Nigeria.
In announcing the development in a statement, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture said the fund was set up to ensure that agricultural activities are not interrupted during the season for agriculture in 2020.
It also aims at controlling transboundary pests and minimizing COVID-19 ‘s effects, and ensuring both nutritional and national food security.
Providing additional information about it in an interview Alabi Olaniran, director of the Ministry’s Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, said the Pest Control Fund had been approved not only to address pest control but also for two other critical areas.
Mr Olaniran said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the fund on 11 March to address the control of migratory pests, animal and zoonotic or transboundary animal diseases, and to upgrade abattoirs.
Mr Olaniran explained that of the N13.9bn announced by the Minister, N2.8bn is for migratory pest control, N9.6bn for animal and zoonotic disease control and N1.4bn for abattoir rehabilitation and upgrading.
He clarified that the N2.8billion for migratory pest control will be disbursed to Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Zamfara, 12 front line states.
In a statement in Abuja on Thursday, AFAN President Kabir Ibrahim said farmers received the news of the fund ‘s approval with a shock.
Mr Ibrahim said the information has exposed farmers to risk, particularly at Nigeria ‘s peak of insecurity.
“For the farmers who are not sure of even being able to produce anything to wake up to the realisation that the government was planning to spend this kind of money on a perceived problem even before it rears its head is nebulous,” he said
“The question we are asking is how the government came to the decision to expend this colossal sum to protect farm produce whose quantum is indeterminate because its cultivation has not even commenced and there is no veritable data to rely on in forecasting what it will actually amount to.
“At the end of the hearing, the government should be advised to reappraise the performance of the drivers of agriculture in Nigeria,” he said.
Although AFAN welcomes President Muhammadu Buhari ‘s concern to promote agriculture for food security and national development, Mr Ibrahim said that “it will be unpatriotic to keep quiet in the face of this obtuse and reductive appraisal of an integral component of the national food system.”
The association called on the government to establish a directorate in Nigeria to coordinate activities to pursue food security.
The spokesperson for the ministry, Theodore Ogaziechi, declined to speak on AFAN ‘s concerns.
“I have no business with AFAN, I am a civil servant and not a politician,” he said.
