All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has lamented that farmers are the most neglected in decision making, policy formulation and implementation.
The association said it will register 40 million farmers before December, and has over 12 million in its database.
AFAN’s President Farouk Mudi, who spoke yesterday in Abuja, said members have resolved to support politicians that agree to partner the association after being elected into office.
Mudi canvassed federal positions for members: Agriculture; Water Resources; managing director of Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL); and special adviser on Agriculture.
At state and local council levels, he said members should be made commissioners and supervisory councillors on agriculture.
These positions, he said, will transform the sector, adding that farmers must come together at local, state and national levels to fight for what is theirs, regardless of party affiliations.
AFAN member Umar Farouk said it is time to make farmers president and governors to build a roadmap to enhance farming systems.
He said: “There are countries that depend on only one crop, but in Nigeria, God has blessed us with different crop varieties.
“Look at what is going on today in each and every community, the level of insecurity is alarming, you will farm and you cannot harvest.
“It is time to save our nation, it is not an issue of politicking, but it is an issue of survival”.