We slept in shanties during agric show – Farmer

In an interview one of the farmers, Jibrin Yehuza, former Financial Secretary of Nasarawa State chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, he told Daily Trust that some of the small scale farmers that attended the show got frustrated as they were not financially buoyant to pay the kind of money charged per night […]

In an interview one of the farmers, Jibrin Yehuza, former Financial Secretary of Nasarawa State chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, he told Daily Trust that some of the small scale farmers that attended the show got frustrated as they were not financially buoyant to pay the kind of money charged per night by hotels in the area.
“Everything is expensive; accommodation, exhibition space, feeding and transportation. The show is for big farmers. Small farmers should also be given the opportunity to attend agricultural shows as well, because without them things will not work well,” the farmer said.
He continued, “we slept in shanties to make sure we witness the show, mosquitoes and other insects feasted on us. No little comfort, but we were determined to participate.”
Yehuza noted that for the show to attract robust participation, farmers should be supported through their various groups by individuals, government and corporate organisations to pay their bills and attend the event so as to make it inclusive.
He appealed to the organizers of the show to give spaces to private entrepreneurs and individual farmers at low cost to encourage and ensure mass turnout.
The farmer cited Kano as a state to emulate, saying that the state’s pavilion was the richest because their state government supported the delegates and mobilised all the local government areas to the show.