Mr
Paul Ikonne, Executive Secretary, National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) said there was need to urgently address the insecurity challenges in the country in order to overcome challenge of food shortage. Ikonne noted that dialogue remained critical in addressing issues of insecurity and herders, adding that a peaceful dialogue between farmers and herders would prevent future clashes.
”I believe that the herders want their cattle to be healthy so they can sell and make profit. What this means is that they also want a conducive environment to do their business.
”So, NALDA is going to engage them and the communities; we will create an avenue where they can feed their cattle so that we all can live in peace,” he said.
Views: Visits 15 CBN The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has been commended for initiating the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, which has helped smallholder maize farmers in the country to attain quality production and sustainable life. The National President of Maize Association of Nigeria, Dr Bello Abubakar, gave the commendation at the inauguration of the first National Maize Pyramid unveiling programme in Abuja recently. He said that maize farmers in the country were currently producing enough to meet up the demand for maize in Nigeria. READ ALSOAuto crash claims 2 lives in Onitsha The president called on the government to sustain the ban on maize importation to further boost maize production and to encourage farmers in the country.
List why ban won’t work
Agro-industrial users of maize have faulted the insistence of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop and frustrate importation of maize into the country despite unfavourable conditions for local production of the crop and a shortfall of over 5 million metric tonnes. x
The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), major commercial poultry farmers and feed millers, in different interviews with The Guardian, lamented the high cost of maize, which is a major ingredient in animal feeds.
They argued that banning the importation of maize and soya beans unreasonably would compound the country’s economic woes as poultry, fishery and feed industries would collapse, which in turn would worsen unemployment, aggravate poverty and hamper foreign investments in the sectors.
A woman roasts maize cobs on the side of the road in Lawley informal settlement in the south of Johannesburg, South Africa, April 24, 2019. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
The Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN), has urged the federal government to maintain the ban on the importation of the commodity into the country.
According to them, the policy would further boost local capacity as well as incentivise farmers.
The National President of the association, Dr. Bello Abubakar, made the call during the inauguration of the first National Maize Pyramids and flag off of the 2021 wet season farming in Katsina State.
The event was organised in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).