- Says low productivity, lack of reliable market, others hinder farmers
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday admitted that Nigeria has 200 million poor people and asked the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to consider this when sharing production cuts.
At a meeting with the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO)’Secretary-General, Dr. Omar Farouk from Nigeria, at the State House in Abuja,
The President stated that asides the 200 million poor people, the nation has severe deficit in infrastructure, saying that the weight of responsibility was too much.
Buhari welcomed the decision of the APPO to site the headquarters of the African Energy Investment Corporation in Abuja, pledging the full support of the country in ensuring the successful take off of the organisation and also gave assurance that Nigeria would pay for its share subscription.
The President also said that smallholder farmers have seen their livelihoods constrained by a host of challenges such as low productivity, lack of reliable markets and poor rural access roads.
He made this known at 2nd National Commodity Alliance Forum organised by IFAD, with the theme: “Enhancing productivity and market opportunities for cassava value chain development”.
Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Nanono, said that farmers are faced with myriad of challenges in their day to day activities.
He noted that the private sector holds the key to providing a reliable market to small farmers as well as the means of engaging with the government on behalf of the small farmers.
