The Nigeria Farmers Group and Cooperative Society (NFG-CS) has called on state governments to support mechanised farming to boost food production across the country.
The National Coordinator of the group, Mr Redson Tedheke, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Gaate, Nasarawa State.
According to him, for the nation to attain self-sustenance in food production, the state governments must key into the agricultural revolution of the Federal Government by supporting mechanised farming.
“If we really want to feed ourselves as a nation and stop importation of food, mechanised farming must be initiated and supported across the country.
“A country of over 170 million people cannot guarantee food security in this 21st century with hoe and cutlass farming.
“It is not enough to say people, especially the youths should go to farm without making the sector attractive with the requisite technical sophistication.
“The state governments are closer to the rural areas where there are a lot of arable lands lying fallow, therefore they should provide the necessary platforms for massive mechanised farming,” he urged.
Tedheke said that as Nigeria was currently seeking diversification from oil, sustained mechanised farming was the surest way to building a viable economy.
He said that besides boosting production efficiency, farm mechanisation would encourage large scale production, improve the quality of farm produce to create jobs and produce raw materials for local industries.
“The use of tractors, trucks, combine harvesters, airplanes helicopters, and other vehicles for modern farming will not only put good food on our tables but will encourage youth participation in agriculture and rural development.”
Tedheke said that the NFG-CS was a rural community-based farm settlements initiative geared toward farming across the country to ensure food security for Nigerians.
He said that the farm located at Gaate village, a rural settlement along Keffi-Akwanga road in Kokona local government area of Nasarawa State, was a 1000 hectares maize farmland.
According to him, the group is planning to establish farms across the six geo-political zones of the nation as part of its “Farm to Feed Nigeria’’ programme.
He said that it had also established a farm in Adamawa State with the support of the state government.
He said that plans were underway for the group to begin the farming of ginger in Kaduna state.
Tedheke said that the NFG-CS was a formation of men and women from across Nigeria interested in farming wherever they might be, in response to the administration’s drive to boost agriculture.
He said that the group was being assisted by Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the CBN through the Anchor Borrowers Programme.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has stressed the need to grow Nigeria from within, and be self-reliance through food provision is one of such ways.
“The CBN and other relevant agencies of government are now working seriously toward developing the agriculture sector.
“Since this government has clearly shown sincerity and the political will to develop the sector, we have to take the necessary steps.
“The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, has personally shown that he is a farmer and wants farming to strive by pledging all necessary support to us,” he said.