All Famers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Niger State chapter on Tuesday, warned that there may be a food crisis in the country if the challenges of insecurity were not seriously tackled.
The Chairman of the Niger State chapter, Alhaji Shehu Galadima, gave the warning during the official flag-off of the 2021 farming season and fertilizer sales in Minna, the state capital.
Galadima added that 11 local government areas of the state were seriously affected by banditry.
“If the issue of insecurity is not handled and put to an end now, there is going to be food crisis across the country as from later this year.
“Niger State is vast in landmass and 11 LGAs are badly affected as the farmers can no longer go to their farmlands.
“It is good to give fertilizers to farmers but which farm will they go to when bandits have taken over 11 LGAs,” expressed.
He further urged the federal and states governments to rescind their decision in the withdrawal of incentives for farmers.
The Chairman said, “the withdrawal of incentives for farmers is uncalled for. We want the state government to let the Federal Government know that they need to review it because farmers in Niger State are the worst hit by insecurity as they can no longer go to harvest the crops they planted.”