AFAN President Backs Abba Yusuf’s Second-Term Bid, Praises Kano’s Agricultural Policies

The National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Farouk Rabiu-Mudi, has thrown his weight behind the second-term bid of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, saying the governor’s agricultural policies are benefiting farmers and contributing to the state’s economic development.

Rabiu-Mudi made the declaration on Monday at a press conference in Kano, where he also reaffirmed AFAN’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s agricultural transformation agenda.

According to him, the association is pleased with the commitment of both the Federal and Kano State Governments to boosting agricultural productivity, strengthening food security and improving farmers’ access to farmland.

He said the growing partnership between government and farmers’ associations was helping to tackle some of the major challenges facing the agricultural sector, particularly insecurity and limited access to productive land.

Nigeria has more than 70 million hectares of farmland, Rabiu-Mudi said, noting that insecurity had previously forced farmers away from some of their farms.

He, however, said improved security was encouraging farmers to return to their farmlands.

“The partnership between the Ministry of Defence and AFAN has suddenly become a game changer for our farmers, as many farmers are beginning to go back to their farmlands,” he said.

The AFAN president commended the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, for his support for farmers and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

He disclosed that AFAN had recently conferred on Musa the title of Patron of the association in recognition of his contributions to the agricultural community.

AFAN Explores Brazilian Agricultural Innovations
Rabiu-Mudi also disclosed that AFAN executives recently embarked on an agricultural study tour of Brazil, where they participated in the annual Cotrijal trade exhibition.

He said the tour was aimed at identifying agricultural innovations and technologies that could be adapted to improve production in Nigeria and support farming communities, including those in IDP settlements.

He announced that AFAN would host the Nigerian-Brazilian International Agricultural Exhibition in November in partnership with the Kano State Government and the Kano State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA).

According to him, the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Livestock Development, Industry, Trade and Investment, and Foreign Affairs are collaborating on the initiative.

He said the partnership was designed to support the transformation of Nigeria’s agricultural and livestock sectors from subsistence farming to mechanised and commercially driven agriculture.

Rabiu-Mudi said deeper cooperation with Brazilian farmers, greater investment in outgrower schemes and access to blended financing could significantly increase agricultural productivity and stimulate economic growth.

He maintained that Nigeria had the land, farmers and market potential required to become a major agricultural hub in West Africa and a significant exporter of agricultural produce.
AFAN Commends Tinubu’s Agricultural Initiatives
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The AFAN president also praised the Federal Government for several initiatives aimed at strengthening the agricultural sector.

He listed the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, livestock development programmes, the Blue Economy initiative, the National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP), the Nigerian Agricultural Development Fund and increased funding for the Bank of Agriculture among the measures he described as positive developments.

Rabiu-Mudi urged farmers across the country to take advantage of government agricultural programmes and seek support and guidance from relevant agencies.

He said stronger collaboration among government, farmers and other stakeholders remained critical to improving food security, creating jobs, growing the economy and unlocking Nigeria’s agricultural potential.

He also urged farmers to support President Tinubu’s agricultural transformation agenda, stressing that collective action was necessary to reposition agriculture as a major driver of Nigeria’s economic development.