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Hon. Samuel Meshi
By Samuel Torlumun, covering the agric show
The Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, (AFAN), Nasarawa State chapter Hon. Samuel Meshi has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to subsidize agriculture, as it is been practiced in other developed climes.
Hon. Meshi made the call on Thursday in an interview with journalists, during the Nasarawa Day exhibition at the ongoing National Agricultural Show, which was declared opened on Wednesday, at Tudun Wada, Karu Local Government area of Nasarawa State.
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Nasarawa State chapter chairman, asserted that subsidizing agriculture will go a long way to encouraging farmers to put in there best for better food production. And also make it easier for Nigeria to realize its national quest for food sufficiency
He therefore said there is the need for the federal government to emulate what is practicable in other multinational and developed countries.
According to him, “If the government can subsidize the cost of tractors, cost of rippers, fertilizer, herbicides, cost of some processing mechines,as well as other farming implements,farmers will key into it and the country will move forward.
“There is at present no country, be it developed or undeveloped which agriculture is not subsidized,” he said.
Meshi who is the immediate past chairman, Akwanga Local Government Council, however expressed displeasure on some the accusations that farmers don’t pay back loan facilities issued them.
As according to him, “If the financial based of farmers are not encouraged and is at zero level, how can he pay for loan? But if agriculture is subsidize to a reasonable level, farmers will be willing to pay back whatever loan that they are given”.
