By Bisola Adeyemo
Nigerian farmers have responded to the alarming rate of insecurity in all most all states of the country.
The farmers in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, called on the Federal Government to hasten actions in curbing the activities of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism, citing that it can affects food security.
The National President, Maize Association of Nigeria, Dr. Bello Abubakar said, “Our farmers can not go to their farms because of fear of being kidnapped, robbed and killed,” Abubakar said.
Paul Ikonne, Executive Secretary, National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) added that there was need to urgently address the insecurity challenges in the country in order to overcome challenge of food shortage.
Ikonne said, “I believe that the herders want their cattle to be healthy so they can sell and make profit. What this means is that they also want a conducive environment to do their business.
”So, NALDA is going to engage them and the communities; we will create an avenue where they can feed their cattle so that we all can live in peace,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Peter Dama, National Chairman, Rice Millers Association of Nigeria said, ”The issue of insecurity, importation of food items grown in the countries, should be stopped. Nigerians have the responsibility of safeguarding the investments and economy of this nation for our progress.”