Senate has urged the Federal Government to implement an intervention package for farmers affected by the current collapse in agricultural produce prices, in order to cushion their losses and ensure household stability.
The call followed a motion sponsored by Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje on the need to address the falling prices of agricultural produce amid the high cost of farm inputs.
Presenting the motion, Senator Goje commended the Federal Government for lowering the cost of food products which brought succour to Nigerians but has at the same time created special problem for the Nigerian farmers.
He argued that while the prices of farm produce have been going down, that of the farm inputs especially fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, etc have remained extremely high;
Senator Goje observes that the enormous labour, time, and resources invested by farmers will be wasted without urgent government’s intervention to stabilize agricultural markets, protect local producers, and sustain economic activities in the rural areas of the country;
Many Senators supported the motion with a call for the Government to assist farmers by way of subsidising fertilizer, complete the construction of silos in the country and purchase the farm produce directly from the farmers.
Contributing in the debate Senator Aliyu M Wamako commended president Tinubu for introducing polices that came down the prices of farm produce but urged for measures to address the high cost of fertiliser and other farming inputs.
“The high cost of fertilizer and other farming pesticides that help farmers to produce more is alarming and need to be address in a very positive way that our farmers can be encourage to do more”
However, Senator Muhammad Sani Musa said as for fertilizer the Government is trying to introduce a mechanism on fertilizer to assist farmers to be getting it in an affordable prices.
Senator Muntari Dandutse also urged the Senate to use its position to ensure the Nigerian Farmers are assisted to improve their production capacity considering the challenges they face now and then.
Commenting on the issue, the Senate President Godswil Akpabio commended the efforts of president Bola Ahmad Tinubu in bring the prices of food items down and assured to continue to support his initiative in boosting agricultural production for food security in Nigeria.
The Senate therefore urged the Government to introduce broad-based agricultural input subsidies, particularly for fertilizers and other farm inputs.
Cov/ Bashir M
