The Forum for Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN) says it received with mixed feelings the news that some of the front runners in the forthcoming presidential elections have been clamouring for the reopening of the country’s land boarders and the resumption of importation of rice and other food items that have hitherto been banned by the current administration.
In statement signed by the forum’s chairman Sadiq Umar-Daware, the association said it did not discountenance the merit of such a proposition, however , their position as stakeholders in agriculture sector and direct beneficiaries of the positive impact of the well-thought-out policy that led to the closure of the land boarders and the eventual ban in the importation of rice, wishes to implore proponents on both sides of the divide to consider the advantages vis-a-viz disadvantages of either position in the overall interest of the nation.
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The statement noted that although candidates are required to put forward their value propositions to the electorates during campaigns in order to solicit votes, it is not in the interest of the nation for anyone to politicize agriculture as it portends great danger to the wellbeing of the nation and its food security.
Daware expressed concern on the implications of land border reopening and resumption of importation of rice would have on teeming rice farmers who have deployed massively to farm following the ban on the importation of rice and medium and large-scale processors who have also invested heavily in setting up processing facilities that are already up and running.
He recalled the lethal blow the uncontrolled importation of textile materials had on the country’s textile industries as the carcases of moribund textile industries in Kaduna and other parts of Nigeria are still staring on the faces of Nigerians, urging that history should not repeat itself.
The chairman, promised that the association will continue to work assiduously with any government in power in promoting all policies that would better position all value chain players in the agricultural space to become formidable sources of economic diversification.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
