AFAN Calls For Re-introduction Of GES Farmers Empowerment Scheme

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has appealed to the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to re-introduce Gross Enhancement Scheme (GES) to further empower farmers across the country.

Kaduna State Chapter Chairman of the association, Nuhu Aminu made the appeal during the North-West meeting of the association in Zaria on Friday.

He said the scheme was a support not a 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 met 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 link 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), Professor 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.

NAN