Farmers Association pledges support to Tinubu in making agriculture bedrock of the economy
By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Agbekoya Farmers Association of Nigeria, under the umbrella of Agbekoya Society have pledged their loyalty and support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu towards ensuring he leaves a legacy of making Agriculture the bedrock of the economy.
The body expressed willingness to work with Tinubu’s administration on policies that could drive food security and community policing in the southwest region of the country.
In a congratulatory message to the President, Aare Agbekoya Worldwide, High Chief Kamorudeen Aremu Okikiola urged President Tinubu to ensure that he carries the Association along in developing and implementing relevant agricultural policies, noting that developing policies without stakeholder engagement will not boost the agricultural economy.
Aare Okikiola, who commended the President’s plans to create agricultural hubs in states, advised President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the states are safe, as farmers must feel safe to go to their farmlands.
He pledged the support of the Association to complement the security agencies in ensuring that farmers get adequate security without fear of unknown attacks while farming and trading.
Aare Okikiola while stressing that insecurity must be a thing of the past, emphasized that making farms safe and funding agricultural mechanization will create not only more food but also jobs to engage restless youths who have turned to crime for a living.
He advised President Tinubu to address the agricultural sector budget as it’s still being confronted with late budget releases and policy inconsistencies, adding that budgetary allocations largely affect the practice of smallholder farming.
While adding that there should be a political will to allocate at least 10 percent of annual budgets and actual revenues to the agriculture sector with appropriate budget lines, Okikiola enjoined all farmers and relevant stakeholders to support and have trust in Tinubu’s administration to revive the agricultural sector in providing sufficient food for the nation towards the alleviation of poverty.