Farmers in Niger State have warned that there may be a food crisis in the country if the challenges of insecurity were not seriously tackled by the government in collaboration with the security agencies.

The Chairman of the State chapter of, All Famers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Shehu Galadima, raised the alarm on Tuesday at the official flag-off of the 2021 farming season and fertilizer sales in Minna, the state capital, adding that 11 local government areas of the state were seriously affected by banditry.

According to Galadima “if the issue of insecurity is not handled and put to an end now, there is going to be food crisis across the country as from later this year.

“Niger State is vast in landmass and 11 LGAs are badly affected as the farmers can no longer go to their farmlands. It is good to give fertilizers to farmers but which farm will they go to when bandits have taken over 11 LGAs,” he said.

He further urged the federal and states governments to rescind their decision in the withdrawal of incentives for farmers.

According to him, “the withdrawal of incentives for farmers is uncalled for. We want the state government to let the Federal Government know that they need to review it because farmers in Niger State are the worst hit by insecurity as they can no longer go to harvest the crops they planted.”

(Nigerian Tribune)