Ibrahim Sulaiman
The Arewa Grassroot Farmers Alliance of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to stop the importation of farm produce into the country, warning that continued importation is discouraging local farmers and threatening national food security.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Nasir El-Rufai Hall in Ikara, Kaduna State, the Acting Chairman of the Alliance, Mr Dauda Musa, said Nigeria has the capacity to produce enough food to feed itself if the right policies are implemented.
Mr Musa explained that the country’s over-reliance on imported farm produce had weakened domestic production and discouraged millions of smallholder farmers across the North from remaining in active farming.
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“Every time the government opens the borders for the importation of farm produce, local farmers lose hope,” he said.
“We cannot talk about self-sufficiency and food security when we are still depending on foreign goods that we can produce here in Nigeria.”
The acting chairman emphasised the need for the government to strengthen agricultural policies that support local production, provide access to affordable farm inputs, and ensure adequate market opportunities for farmers.
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Chairmen of the Alliance from Ikara and Makarfi Local Government Areas, Aminu Aliyu and Suleiman Abubakar Jibrin, also appealed to the Federal Government to address the rising cost of fertiliser, herbicides, and other essential farm inputs, which they described as a major setback to food production.
They urged government agencies and institutions to prioritise the purchase of locally produced agricultural goods as a way of encouraging homegrown production and empowering rural communities.
Some farmers who spoke with Radio Nigeria Kaduna expressed frustration over what they described as the most difficult farming season in recent years due to high production costs and lack of access to credit facilities.
They called on the Federal Government to provide direct subsidies and intervention programs to help small-scale farmers remain in business.
Farmers at the meeting noted that Nigeria’s agricultural sector — despite being the largest employer of labour — continues to struggle with poor funding, limited mechanisation, and weak infrastructure.
The Arewa Grassroot Farmers Alliance, which comprises farmers’ associations from across the northern states, reiterated its commitment to working with government at all levels to revitalise the agricultural sector and achieve self-sufficiency in food production.
The meeting attracted farmers, agricultural experts, and community leaders from various local government areas within the Kaduna and beyond.