AFAN urges members to get PVCs, demands inclusion in policy formulation
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), has urged its members to obtain Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in the ongoing voter registration ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The National President of AFAN, Mr. Farouk Mudi, made the call during the inauguration of the association’s newly elected executives in Sokoto State on Monday.
Mudi expressed dissatisfaction with the “lack of concern for farmers” in the areas of decision-making, policy formulation, and implementation in the country.
“ About 80 percent of Nigerians who are farmers have been neglected in the areas of decision-making, policy formulation, and implementation.
” All positions which have to do with agriculture must be left to members of the farmers association at the national, state, and local government levels.
“ We strongly believe that with our members in leadership positions in the agriculture sector, the critical transformation will take place.
“Farmers must come together at local, state, and national levels. We will not relent anymore; we must fight to get what belongs to us, regardless of any political party affiliation,’’ he said.
Mudi explained that the association unanimously resolved that any politician seeking farmers’ support must enter into an agreement with AFAN regarding decisions about farmers in Nigeria.
According to him, present national executives are trying to incorporate all categories of farmers, restructure the association for optimal performance, and ways to explore opportunities for members.
He added that a database was being formulated, where individual farmers and groups were captured, to facilitate benefiting loan schemes, health insurance schemes, and another initiative to uplift farmers well being.
The National President said relevant authorities and institutions were being contacted to change the farmer’s situation for to better.
” We ensured formulation of 6,006 association executives in the 8,853 political words in 774 local government areas across the country.
” Farmers feed the nation out of their productive activities, while a vast population of policymakers neglected real practicing farmers and patronized groups without formidable obligations in farming activities.”
Mudi added that tricycle loans, township bus service, inputs, and other supports would soon be implemented for members of the country.
the national president inaugurated 23 executive members in Sokoto state with Alhaji Jamilu Sanusi as Chairman.
Alhaji Usman Tambuwal, Alhaji Hamza Tangaza and Alhaji Mamman Sule are Vice Chairmen One and Two.
Alhaji Lawal Usman and Musa Yusuf were inaugurated as Secretary and Assistant Secretary while Tukur Namadina and Sama’ila Hamza were inaugurated as Treasurer and Public Relations Officers.
The newly inaugurated Chairman, Sanusi assured members of the desire to pursue the targeted goals of AFAN from previous leaders’ achievements.
The executive comprises representation from all the farmer’s groups and associations in Sokoto State.
NAN further reports that during the occasion, Mr. Caius Egbufoam, a representative of the US-Based Agronomic Technology company, signed a working partnership with AFAN on yield enhancement and modern agricultural practices.