Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has raised concerns about high presence of fake farmers.
Kyari said the “portfolio farmers” pose as genuine to steal government support.
He spoke at the closing of Agricultural Input Resilience Programme, Kyari, and was represented by his Minister of State, Aliyu Abdullahi.
The programme, a collaboration between Office of Vice President, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and African Fertiliser and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), tackles availability, affordability, and quality of essential farm input in Nigeria.
Kyari noted infiltration of fake farmers has led to genuine farmers being forced to buy input at high price, hoping the programme will identify and support real farmers.
“This has come at the right time. Dealing with fake farmers has hindered progress and contributed to the food crisis. Insecurity is a factor, but so is the presence of ghost farmers’’.
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AFAP President, Michael Sudarkasa, noted the commitment to leverage their expertise in support of sustainable agricultural development.
Sudarkasa noted the initiative has showcased effectiveness of public-private sector collaboration in addressing challenges in the agricultural industry.
He said the closeout ceremony saw the signing of an MoU between AFAP and National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF).