Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong has advocated for more funding and incentives for small holder-farmers who are the mainstay of Nigeria’s agricultural sustainability programme.
Governor Lalong said this while addressing the NEPAD Summit and technical roundtable discussion on strengthening small-holder farmer capabilities in the COVID-19 era at the Sheraton Hotel Abuja.
Lalong said these farmers need every support to build their capacity to embrace modern farming practices, harvest, store and add value to their produce as well as access better marketing channels for better earnings.
He commended NEPAD for the intiative which he said was in tandem with the priority of his administration which is anchored on using areas of comparative advantage for sustainable economic rebirth.
The Governor said “We welcome NEPAD’s initiative in Plateau State and ask you to take advantage of the Agriculture Microfinance Bank which is the first of its kind in Nigeria. We hope you can easliy connect and assist our farmers through this avenue and many others which we have been using to equip them with the relevant knowledge and skills”.
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He also said the agricultural institutions in Plateau State, available land, manpower and its peculiar weather for production of exortic crops makes it a natural destination for programmes such as this.
Lalong assured that Plateau women will be carried along in the programme as most of them are hardworking and have also been trained by various agencies to take advantage of opportunities in agriculture.
The event was attended by Governors of Kebbi, Kwara, Niger as well as Deputy Governors of Adamawa and Nasarawa States.
