The Potato Farmers Association of Nigeria (POFAN) has called for the establishment of a farmers’ security outfit to combat the incessant killings of farmers by herders and bandits.
The National President of POFAN, Mr Daniel Okafor, made the call in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said that the recent increase in the high cost of food items was a result of farmers not going to farms, as they should because of the activities of herders and bandits.
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“We have lost some of our farmers while working on their farms both men, women and youths.
“This is impacting negatively on production and economic growth,” he said.
He said there was a need to also train farmers on security tips and more training on agricultural best practices to improve production.
Okafor appealed to the Federal Government to make a special budget available to farmers to boost production in the face of post-COVID-19 recovery.
(NAN)