From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Dr Ashimashga Michael Akoloaga, Executive Officer of Eden Moringa Productions and Marketers Limited, has urged the government to make agricultural inputs readily available to farmers if they are serious about addressing the food crisis.
In a telephone interview with journalists yesterday, Dr Akoloaga insisted that the government must commit to supporting local talents instead of frustrating them with unrealistic policies. He added that Nigeria should start planning ahead, set achievable targets, and believe in its ability to achieve them.
“The basic challenges we are facing as farmers are the lack of fertilizers and tractors for large-scale farms,” he said. “It is the major responsibility of the government to provide fertilizers to all communities in Nigeria.”
Dr. Akoloaga pointed out that every country that is a producing nation today has experienced what Nigeria is experiencing, but they overcame it by believing in their ability and working towards it. He attributed the current food crisis to the epileptic power supply, despite Nigeria being both a producing and consuming nation.
He appealed to the federal government to stop giving money to farmers and instead make available the necessary inputs they need to explore their full potential.