The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Mustapha Shehuri has pointed out that the use of tricycles will ease transportation for smallholder farmers across the country.
Speaking when he received a delegation led by the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Bulk Stalker Nigeria Ltd and Sounghor Motors of South Korea in his office in Abuja, Shehuri said using tricycles as a means of transportation for farmers will enhance the movement of food and agro-allied products, increase production and generate wealth for Nigerian farmers.
He stated that Nigeria’s agricultural sector has huge potential to drive the country’s economy, in line with the diversification policy of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. “The market is massive across the value chain and it will enable us to achieve food sufficiency and export agricultural products.”
Shehuri noted that the use of tricycles by the smallholder farmers in communities across the country would ease transportation, ensure that food and agro-allied products arrive nearby markets fresher and increase the income of smallholder farmers.
The minister urged the AFAN and its partners to ensure that the tricycles match the specification of the smallholder farmers. “There is no point bringing in tricycles without input by the end-users. The smallholder farmers must have inputs for the initiative to achieve its objectives and goals.”
He tasked the association to ensure synergy between the Federal, state and local governments in carrying out their programme. “There should be robust collaboration between the three tiers of government and the AFAN because all relevant stakeholders must streamline policies and programmes to achieve food and nutrition security and boost the economy.’’
Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the delegation and AFAN president, Alhaji Farouk Mudi, revealed that the association and its partner Buck Staker Nigeria Ltd will provide 500,000 units of tricycles which will create direct or indirect employment for over 2 million members of AFAN, empower youths and farmers to reduce stress and cost of transportation of produce and, in turn, reduce the cost of food items.
He added that registered farmers could access this loan after opening an account and being certified, whereas one of AFAN’s partners will manage the issuance and management of the vehicles until a beneficiary pays off the loan.
Also, according to him, Buck Stalker Nigeria Ltd will establish assembly plants across the geo-political zones to create employment opportunities for the nation’s teeming youths.
In another event, the ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, received the participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Plateau State.
The participants were in the ministry to discuss the mandate, functions and activities of the ministry and the theme of study for the SEC. 44, 2022 approved by President Buhari – “Strengthening Local Governance in Nigeria: Challenges, Options and Opportunities”.
He stated that the agricultural sector is doing its best to partner with states and local governments in the implementation of our projects and programmes because agriculture in Nigeria is traditionally a business deeply rooted in the local communities.
A statement by the ministry’s director of information and signed by Ezeaja Ikemefuna said the ministry had created a forum for routine meetings with state commissioners of agriculture to share experiences and address common challenges.
