NGO urges FG to create markets for farm produce


The Advocacy for Economic Integrity, an NGO, has called on the Federal Government to create markets for farmers by giving them contract for the supply of farm produce to schools and other public institutions.
The Director-General of the NGO, Mr Abdullahi Aremu, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
Aremu said the creation of such markets for farm produce would help farmers, particularly the young entrepreneurs, to invest more and grow their agric businesses.
According to him, it will also help in increasing demand and supply chain for the nation’s farm products.
The director-general said government should ensure that farmers transported their goods from the hinterlands to city markets without much hussles.
He stressed the need for the Federal Government to provide effective road and rail networks to connect rural farmers with markets.
Government should find solution to the problems facing farmers in assessing fund from specialised banks, he said.
He noted that ``it is imperative to encourage access to funding from banks through farmers' cooperatives and improve access to agricultural land by small-holders, especially women and youths.
``There is need for fiscal incentives to encourage private sector research and development institutions, as well as the development of climate index for farm insurance purposes.'' 


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