To ensure food security in the Southeast zone, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Southeast has called on the State governors to increase annual budgetary allocation in agriculture.
In a communiqué which was issued at a one day zonal Committee meeting in Enugu, which was signed by the association’s State Chairmen, it also urged State Assemblies to legislate on making agriculture an economic mainstay of the zone.
AFAN also frowned at any attempt to factionalise the body in the zone, saying that mechanisms of conflict resolution as envisaged in its Constitution should be strictly observed.
The body noted that any existing faction should cease and collapse into the mainstream to allow the body focus on security for the zone and the country.
AFAN pleaded with governors to be captured in their annual budgets, noting that they have capacity to coordinate agricultural activities in the zone.
Part of the communiqué stated: “That All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) South East deprecates any attempt by any Individual or groups, no matter how highly placed to create factions in AFAN. Such factitious groups should seize to exist immediately .
“Any dispute should be resolved using the internal Conflict Resolution Mechanism as enshrined in AFAN Constitution and where such disputes cannot be resolved the NWC should consult Critical Stake Holders and Chairman and Members of Board of Trustees of AFAN for a peaceful resolution.
“That the Electoral Committee recently constituted by the present NWC be ratified by NEC and be inaugurated immediately and charged among other things to conduct AFAN National Elections before the end of the Second quarter of this year (2020).
“That members of AFAN South East are encouraged to vie for the position of the AFAN Presidency and seek for the support of other Zones for equity and fair play since the Zone has not tasted the number one position since the inception of AFAN.
“That the Governors and State Assemblies in the South East should increase Budgetary Allocation to Agriculture and consider capturing AFAN Activities in their Annual Budgets to improve Agriculture and ensure Food Security in the Zone.
AFAN also encouraged investments in crops the zone has comparative advantage in order to diversify the economy of the zone.
“That crops with comparative advantages in the zone such as Oil Palm, Cashew, Rice, Cassava and other root crops be given serious priority by the region to diversify the economy of the region and to create jobs.
“Oil Palm used to be our main stay contributing 85% of the IGR and helping to develop our infrastructure.
“That the South East AFAN Committee be reinvigorated and made functional and Farmers in the Region sensitised to produce more food this season to avert the looming food scarcity after the COVD19 Pandemic.
