AFAN Solicits Support For Young Farmers

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Osun State, has called on the state government to provide loan facilities that will encourage youths to go into farming.
The AFAN President in the state, Alhaji Raheem Adeniji, made the call in an interview with newsmen  in Osogbo, Thursday.
“If government provides farmers with agric loans, youths will be encouraged to join the business of agriculture because agriculture is a business.
“Nobody or youth will want to venture into agro-business when they don’t have government support or loans,’’ he said.
Adeniji said AFAN in the state was helping to build the youth chapter of the association by telling young farmers to group themselves into cooperatives.
He said by forming cooperatives, they would stand a better chance of having access to agric and farming loans that would help boost agricultural production in the state.
Adenji, however, lauded the efforts and support of both the state and Federal Governments toward improving farming business in the state and boosting agricultural production.
He said the state government had cleared lands for farmers in the state free of charge and also promised to provide loans, while the Federal Government had been providing chemicals and fertilisers.
He said heavy burden had been lifted off the shoulders of farmers because many could not afford the cost of farmland clearing.