The Kaduna State Chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria has appealed for timely provision of farming inputs to wet season farmers to improve food security in the state.

AFAN’s Chairman, Alhaji Nuhu Aminu, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Zaria.

The chairman lamented that the lockdown imposed by the state government would affect the next farming season, and may have significant consequences on food security in the agrarian state.

He told NAN that preparations for rainy season farming have commenced in some parts of the country, but the lockdown in the state has restricted many members of AFAN from commencing the process.

Aminu added that there was a strong probability of food shortage due to insecurity and the prevailing COVID-19 Pandemic in the country, lamenting that there were no strong measures in place to avert “the imminent food crises.”

He said the timely provision of incentives to farmers such as funding for farms clearance, fertilizer, improved seeds, herbicide, and pesticides would ease pressure on farmers ahead of the season.

The AFAN chairman said the association was already in contact with relevant stakeholders to support over 25,000 wet season farmers in the state with soft loans.

He said that the loan would be through the Central Bank Anchor Borrower Scheme.

Aminu noted that the current public health challenge has continued to affect the process of getting the loan.

He, however, said that AFAN was in touch with the Development Finance Officer of the CBN and other key stakeholders on the matter.

The chairman told NAN that in the next few weeks the association and the CBN would conclude the process and start the distribution of the incentives to the wet season farmers.

Aminu reiterated the commitment of the association to strengthen collaboration with the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria on new farming techniques to improve farming system and output.

“We have already approached the Institute of Agricultural Research of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, which conducted soil analysis for us and other researches for better farming methods,’’ he said.