The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) has called for increased budgetary allocation to agriculture and dedication of not less than 60 per cent of agriculture funds and facilities to small-scale farmers.
It also called for the sustenance and improvement of the successes achieved in the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme.
The group made the call through its National Coordinator, Mr Legborsi Nwaibu, in Owerri on Friday at a sensitization programme for farmers and traders and presentation of the Nigerian Farmers Manifesto to the state Ministry of Agriculture.
It said the manifesto was articulated to ensure agricultural policies by the political class effectively targeted the beneficiaries and empower farmers to hold public officers accountable.
The association said the manifesto was based on aggregated information, observations and feedback from various farmers organisations and networks.
According to them, a study was also conducted to identify the various thematic areas of government’s commitments on selected agriculture policies.
It said the manifesto contained current concerns of the group which included farm productivity stagnation, poor access to financial credit facilities and exclusion of farmers from budgetary process.
Others are heavy post market losses as a result of poor market infrastructure, poverty as well as a disconnect between policy implementation and the needs of small farmers.
The association stressed the need for a roadmap in crisis and dispute resolution to prevent cases of death and displacement of small scale farmers as a result of herdsmen crises in various communities across the country.
It also called on political aspirants to commit themselves to addressing the specific needs of the group to win their votes in the 2019 elections.
The group expressed regret that some politicians were in the habit of making promises to farmers and traders in exchange for votes, pacifying them with food items during campaigns, but later reneging on those promises.
It said that political office seekers who wanted the support of the group must select and endorse some or all of their demands to implement when voted into power.
Responding, state Commissioner for Agriculture, who was represented by the Director of Agriculture, Mr Sylvester Bini, commended the group for their efforts towards ensuring food security in the country.
He assured that their needs were in line with the policy framework of the ministry, adding that those not captured would be incorporated.
The group which expanded to encourage an interlink between market access and production of goods also include local manufacturers and small scale farmers networks.
