Farmers demand agric, water ministerial slots in 2023

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has said it will only support politicians that go into partnership with them ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The body lamented that they were the worst neglected in decision making, policy formulation and implementation despite being at the forefront of food production to feed the country.

‘It was therefore anonymously resolved that, henceforth, any politician that will get the support of farmers must first enter into a partnership agreement with AFAN,” a statement from the association said.

President of AFAN, Farouk Mudi, while presenting a keynote address at the 2022 National Executive Council meeting yesterday, in Abuja, said the association was demanding to secure the position of minister of agriculture, minister of water resources, Managing Director of the Nigeria Incentive Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and Special Adviser to the President on Agriculture.

He said at the state level that one of their members was appointed as the commissioner for agriculture, while at the local government level, their members occupy the position of agricultural supervision councillor.

Mudi said with their members leading these critical positions, the agricultural sector would be transformed and would boost food production in the country.

He maintained that the association had over 12 million registered members across the federation in its database, and it was targeting the registration of 40 million farmers before the end of the year. 

Mudi stressed the need for farmers to come together at local, state and national levels and fight for what is theirs regardless of party affiliations.