By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently subsidise farm inputs, tractors and other agricultural equipment to stem mounting post-harvest losses across the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Garba, AFAN National President, Dr. Farouk Rabiu Mudi, said farmers recorded losses of up to 85 per cent from over 50 million tonnes of produce in the last farming season.
Mudi attributed the losses to climate change, volatile commodity prices, high input costs, multiple haulage tariffs imposed by state and local governments, and currency instability.
He also criticised import waivers and the influx of cheaper foreign produce, saying they depress local prices, discourage fresh investments and weaken rural economies despite substantial federal budgetary allocations to agriculture, livestock and poultry.
According to him, subsidising inputs and expanding mechanisation would help close value-chain gaps, reduce waste and restore investor confidence in the sector.
He added that AFAN remains open to dialogue with relevant stakeholders to ease pressure on the Federal Government while ensuring farmers receive timely and accurate policy information.
Mudi also urged lawmakers to prioritise agriculture in legislative frameworks and called on the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, to remain focused on strengthening agricultural reforms through lawmaking and oversight.
He stressed that stronger collaboration between farmers and the National Assembly could reposition agriculture as Nigeria’s leading revenue earner after oil and gas.
