Ibadan — Youths under the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), South-West zone, have decried rising insecurity across the region, warning that it poses a serious threat to farming activities, food production, and rural livelihoods.
The group made its position known in a communiqué read by its Chairman, Comrade Feyisayo Dada, during a news conference held on Thursday in Ibadan.
AFAN youths called on President Bola Tinubu and governors of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo states to urgently address the worsening security situation affecting farmers.
While acknowledging the progress recorded under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and various agricultural interventions aimed at boosting food production, the group stressed that insecurity remains a major obstacle to achieving national food security goals.
They lamented the increasing cases of abduction and attacks on farmers, describing the situation as alarming and detrimental to agricultural productivity.
“Many farmers have abandoned their farms due to fear of kidnapping and ransom demands,” the communiqué stated.
The group also identified the destruction of crops by roaming animals as a persistent source of conflict, urging the government to promote modern livestock management systems to reduce clashes between farmers and herders.
In addition, AFAN youths highlighted concerns over the mismatch between agricultural inputs distributed through federal programmes and the ecological conditions of the South-West, noting that climate and soil differences must be considered for better productivity.
They further called for a more inclusive livestock development strategy that goes beyond cattle rearing to support fisheries, poultry, small ruminants, piggery, rabbit production, snail farming, and beekeeping.
To modernise agriculture and attract young people, the group advocated for increased mechanisation, including the establishment of tractor hiring centres, equipment leasing schemes, digital agriculture platforms, and agribusiness innovation hubs.
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As part of urgent measures to tackle insecurity, AFAN youths recommended the creation of specialised Agro-Rangers and Farm Protection Security Units, as well as the formation of joint security task forces. They also urged the deployment of surveillance drones and strengthened community intelligence systems across the South-West.
The group emphasised that without decisive action to secure farmlands, ongoing agricultural reforms and investments may fail to deliver the desired impact on food security and economic growth.
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