Nasarawa farmers predict end to recession
NAN-H-6
Food
By Awayi Kuje
Keffi (Nasarawa State), April 21, 2017 (NAN) Some farmers in Nasarawa State have predicted an end to current economic recession in the country.
The farmers made the prediction in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday following early rains recorded in the state.
They said many farmers were encouraged to clear new farm lands as part of efforts to boost food production, fight poverty and contribute to ending the economic recession.
A surveyed by NAN shows that more new farm lands have been cleared by farmers in Keffi, Karu, Nasarawa, Toto local government areas of the state and along the Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia road.
A NAN correspondent, who went round some of the farms, reports that the farmers are eager to key into the Federal Government’s agenda to develop the agricultural sector.
Some of the farmers told NAN in their respective farms that they decided to clear more farm lands because of positive signs of bumper harvest this year.
They also predicted that the economic recession might end before December, considering the commitment of key players in the agricultural sector and that of the federal government towards boosting the economy.
One of the farmers, Mr Bulus Adigizi, said he had cleared more farm land in order to increase food production and fight poverty.
“I have cleared new farm lands and I believe that many farmers have done the same in order to boost food production.
“But, we can only be hopeful of bumper harvest if government provide fertiliser and other farm inputs at affordable price and at the right time,’’ Adigizi said.
He said that the timely sales of fertiliser would facilitate efforts to improve production and enhance food security in the state.
Another farmer, Malam Galadima Haruna, expressed hope that farmers would record bumper harvest in 2017, considering the efforts they are making across the state.
“Farmers in the state are doing their best to boost food production in attempt to contribute their quota towards ending the nation’s economic recession.
“That is why we have cleared more new farm lands and we are giving topmost priority to farming activities.”
He, therefore, appealed to government at all levels to provide agricultural inputs at subsidised rates so as to realise the objective of boosting food production and national development. (NAN)
AKW/AIB/MST
Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Muhammad Suleiman Tola