To cushion the effect of damages caused by bandits on farms, ActionAid Nigeria has called on federal and state governments to promote insurance policies for small-scale farmersIt maintained that farmers cannot continue without insurance cover, given rising agricultural risk due to insecurity, farm raid, cattle rustling, kidnapping and climate change, among others. This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day Public Financing for Agriculture Budget Committee Advocacy Summit, held in Abuja. The group emphasised that most agricultural activities are seasonal and determined by climate change; hence there is need to mitigate untimely release of funds. “The agricultural sector requires a separate budget cycle to enable the agriculture ministry achieve its mandates. Buffer funds from such sources as consolidated revenue, revenue surplus, natural resource funds, national agricultural development funds, among others, should be considered, given the strategic importance of the sector.”

Source: The Guardian October 03, 2021 04:26 UTC