Agriculture
AN agriculture expert, Dr Idris Badiru has called for dialogue with the Amalgamated Union of Food and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN) to ensure an effective supply of foodstuff in the country.
Badiru, a lecturer at the Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Department, University of Ibadan, made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Wednesday.
It would be recalled that UAFCDN recently embarked on strike following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government to attend to their demands of members.
The union had demanded monetary compensation for the lives of members and properties lost during the #EndSARS protest and the Shasa market crisis in Ibadan.
It is also demanding the protection of its members, and the dismantling of all checkpoints on federal highways where their members are harassed and extorted.
The lecturer called for a speedy dialogue to avoid massive food shortages and hunger.
Badiru said it was time for Nigerians to reassess their perception of regional input to the national economy.
“There is a need for mutual respect for one another; every citizen from any part of this country is an important stakeholder in its growth and development.
“We need to rededicate ourselves to doing agriculture in a smart way, we need to deploy technology in production, storage and processing,” he said.
Badiru stated that with the right technology, a few days without supply would not culminate in a shortage of food.
“That a few days of the blockade are already biting hard on the people is a signal that we need to do something differently,” he said.
The agriculture expert said that Nigerians should be willing to make sacrifices to end the crisis between farmers and herders in the country.
“We need to quickly resolve this crisis, the impacts are definitely going to be negative on the citizens,” he said.
Badiru said that although herdsmen could not continue with the old pattern of animal husbandry, they required the government’s support to operate in an enclosed environment. (NAN)
– Mar. 3, 2021 @ 13:37 GMT |
Tags: Agric. expert prescribes dialogue to end AUFCDN strike
