NGO urges FG, states to create market for agricultural produce


The Advocacy for Economic Integrity, an NGO, has urged the Federal and State Governments to create markets for agricultural produce.
The Director-General of the organisation, Mr Abdullahi Aremu, made this call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
According to him, creating markets for produce will go a long way to serve as an incentive to farmers in the country.
Aremu said if governments could invest heavily in the market of agricultural produce, it would expand agricultural businesses in the country.
He said that government could achieve this by feeding pupils in the primary schools with some of the agricultural products.
``Some medical experts say egg helps in sharpening pupil’s brain.
``If governments give these pupils eggs, meat, fish, chickens and fruits at least once per week, it will assist farmers to expand their businesses and encourage young graduates to go into agriculture,’’ he said.
The director-general said that the state government should encourage farmers to increase their production and get investors that would process such crops or add value to them.
``Majority of our people are rural and poor people that must be encouraged to farm.’’
He said that there was need for serious programme that would allow access to credit facilities for farmers.
The director general explained that the challenges of getting loan from banks due to strict guidelines and requirements could hinder production.
Aremu urged bank executives to remove the bottlenecks surrounding loan interest and payment as the farm processes took longer time. 

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