Youth members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the South-West have expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation affecting agricultural activities, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to food production and the livelihoods of rural communities across the region.
The concerns were contained in a communiqué presented by the South-West Chairman of the group, Mr. Feyisayo Dada, during a news conference recently held in Ibadan.
The association appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the governors of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo states to take urgent and coordinated action to address the growing security challenges confronting farmers.
While recognising the efforts of the Tinubu administration through the Renewed Hope Agenda and other agricultural initiatives introduced to improve food production nationwide, the group stressed that persistent insecurity could undermine the impact of those interventions.
According to the youth farmers, the increasing incidence of kidnappings and attacks on farmers has become one of the most significant obstacles to agricultural productivity in the region.
They noted that fear of abduction and the burden of ransom payments have forced many farmers to abandon their farmlands, leading to reduced farming activities and declining output.
The association also identified the destruction of farmlands by grazing animals as a major source of conflict and called on government authorities to encourage the adoption of modern livestock management practices to minimise disputes between farmers and herders.
The group also pointed to the disconnect between agricultural inputs supplied through federal intervention programmes and the environmental conditions of the South-West, arguing that many of the distributed inputs are not well suited to the region’s climate and soil characteristics.
The youth farmers further advocated a more balanced livestock development strategy that extends government support beyond cattle production to include fisheries, poultry, small ruminants, piggery, rabbit farming, snail farming, and beekeeping.
They also called for greater investment in agricultural mechanisation to reduce dependence on traditional farming methods. To achieve this, they recommended the establishment of tractor hiring centres, equipment leasing schemes, digital agriculture initiatives, and agribusiness innovation hubs to attract and support young people in farming.
As part of measures to strengthen security in farming communities, the association proposed the creation of specialised Agro-Rangers and Farm Protection Security Units, the formation of joint security task forces, and the deployment of surveillance drones alongside community-based intelligence systems across the South-West.
