The Cocoa and Plantain Farmers Association of Nigeria (CPFAN) has called on governments at all levels to deploy forest guards to farming communities, saying the security of farmers is critical to achieving food security in the country.
The call was made during a collaboration programme between CPFAN and Green World Natural Solutions aimed at educating farmers on the use of innovative agricultural products and technologies.
Speaking at the event, the Southeast Vice President of CPFAN, Samuel Dickson, who represented the National President, Ayodele Ojo, expressed concern over the growing insecurity confronting farmers across Nigeria.
According to him, many farmers are increasingly abandoning their farms due to fear of attacks by criminals operating within forested areas.
“That’s a very serious issue on the front burner right now. You can see many farmers are afraid to go to their farms as a result of banditry and the insecurity going on. Everyone is afraid to embark on or attend to their farms,” Dickson said.
He stressed that food security cannot be achieved unless farmers are adequately protected and able to cultivate their farms without fear.
Dickson specifically urged government to deploy forest guards into forests where farmers operate rather than stationing them on highways and major roads.
“We are calling on government to do everything possible to make sure that our farms are duly secured. They should provide forest guards. Not standing on the roads; they should be inside the forests, making sure that the forests are safe for the farmers,” he said.
The farmers’ leader noted that incidents of farm invasions, crop destruction, theft of farm produce, kidnapping and other criminal activities have become major threats to agricultural productivity and investment.
According to him, many farmers are unable to expand cultivation due to insecurity, thereby threatening the nation’s food sufficiency drive.
“Government should provide every necessary means to ensure that once a farmer goes to his farm, he is secured and can still come out of the farm without any ugly incident or situation,” he added.
CPFAN further appealed to the Federal Government, state governments, security agencies and relevant stakeholders to strengthen security presence in farming communities, establish dedicated agricultural security initiatives, improve rural surveillance systems and enhance rapid response mechanisms to security incidents affecting farmers.
The association maintained that protecting farmers and agricultural investments remains essential for sustainable food production and national economic growth.
Beyond security concerns, Dickson identified inadequate access to farm inputs and finance as additional challenges facing farmers.
“The challenges of farmers are too numerous. One, every farmer needs inputs. We are asking for inputs from the federal government or from the state government. The issue of finance is an impediment. Some have the land, but they don’t have the finance. Some have the finance, but they don’t have the land,” he said.
Also speaking, the Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Engr. Olaleye Akinola, highlighted various interventions by the state government to support farmers.
According to him, about 2,500 farmers will benefit from fertiliser distribution facilitated through a partnership between the Federal Government and the Ondo State Government, with each farmer receiving four bags of fertiliser.
