The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has appealed to the President-elect to consider re-introduction of Gross Enhancement Scheme (GES) for better empowerment of farmers across the country.
Alhaji Nuhu Aminu, the Kaduna State Chapter of Chairman of the association, made the appeal during the North-West meeting of the association in Zaria on Friday.
Aminu said the scheme was a support not loan to farmers; therefore, its reintroduction would empower peasant farmers and enhance food security in Nigeria.
He noted that the anchor borrowers scheme has not meet the desired results as the scheme was politicised, hence the low recovery of the loans and less enrolment of farmers.
According to him, the GES works with the Agricultural Extension Agents who links the target groups to the scheme while the anchor borrowers tilted towards empowering agro-dealers than the farmers.
Aminu said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss issues that can benefit farmers and strengthen the association.
Earlier, the Executive Director, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Prof. Muhammad Ishiyaku, restated the commitment of the institute to develop improved seed varieties that would meet the needs of farmers.
He added that the institute has developed improved cowpea, maize, cotton and sorghum seed varieties, which are high yielding, pest resistant and drought tolerant.
The executive director said the institute operate an open door policy for farmers and remain committed to share good agronomic practices with the farmers.
