Farmers in Kuje Area Council of FCT have appealed to the Federal Government to provide agricultural infrastructure for farmers to be able to increase food production in the country.
The farmers made the call in separate interviews, on Wednesday.
Mr Nuhu Baba, a rice farmer in Rije village, said that farmers in the area needed access roads, tractors, seedlings, parboiling and drying machines as well as other processing appliances.
“Government should encourage farmers in the country by providing easy access to agricultural infrastructure to boost food production.
“There should be outright ban on importation of rice and other food products that we can produce locally to encourage large scale farming.
“We are also appealing to the government to provide adequate machines for the production and processing of rice,’’ he said.
Mr Musa Kura, a yam farmer in Gaube village, identified lack of good roads and effective transport system as some of the challenges farmers in the area were experiencing as they always found it difficult to convey their farm produce to the market.
Kura stated that because Kuje has comparative advantage of producing yam, farmers in the area can boost its production with the right infrastructure in place.
“After harvesting my yam, I find it very difficult to convey my produce to the market due to the high cost of transportation.
“We need tractors to be able to carry out effective farming operations in the area,’’ Kura said.
He, therefore, appealed to the government to provide farmers with basic agricultural infrastructure to prop up the agric business in the country.
Mr Samuel Yohanna, a farmer based in Lanto village, called for a downward review of the cost of pesticides as the high cost of the chemicals was not in the interest of poor farmers in the area.
Yohana, however, applauded the Chairman of the area council for providing farmers with fertilizer at subsidized rate.
He said such move would encourage farming in the area.
Mr Ziko Gajere, another farmer, told NAN that as the food basket of FCT, Kuje is in need of more agricultural facilities for increased food production. (NAN)