By Juliana Agbo

Kano State government has charged farmers to always repay the loans they collect from the government to attract more intervention programmes.

This, it said would pave ways for others to benefit and take agriculture to its pride of place.

Deputy Governor of the State, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, made the call in Abuja at the official inauguration of the national office of a faction of All Farmers

Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and distribution of agricultural inputs/equipment to state chapters of the association and commodity associations.

Dr Gawuna who said agriculture must be as business, said lot has been done in the area of funding to encourage farmers, adding that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is making available funds that are interest free.

Read Also: Poultry farmers hail CBN on maize importation

“Agriculture is the number one thing that we need to do the right way for the people of Nigeria to be out of poverty”, he said.

While assuring that Kano State government will always support AFAN to ensure it succeeds, he noted that the state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, will use his position to get other governors to support the farmers.

He however commended President, Muhammadu Buhari for his special interest in agriculture.

He further charged the leadership of the association led by Alhaji Faruk Rabiu Mudi to unite Nigerian farmers so that they can benefit more from the government. He expressed happiness that the association now has a national office and that farmers would receive equipment and inputs to aid their operations, adding, “I believe this is just the beginning, we are expecting a lot from you and your national officers.

Also speaking, the national president of the faction of AFAN, Alhaji Mudi said said under his leadership, AFAN will occupy its right place in the scheme of things in Nigeria, especially when it comes to agriculture.

“This is a new AFAN and I promise you that you that nobody is going to take you for granted anymore”, he added.