The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Wednesday, unveiled digital identity card and database platform for the purpose of harmonising information of members of the association across the federation.
The association also inaugurated an advisory board to represent the interests of members of the association in government circles.
Addressing journalists at the event in Abuja, the National President of AFAN, Dr Farouk Rabiu Mudi, said the digital database will provide farmers with a platform to seek solutions to whatever problems they may face with regards to producing food for the country.
He said: “It’s been long that farmers are suffering in Nigeria, so we need to have people that have the muscles in business and we need to harness among ourselves that is, the commodity associations at all level to come together so that farmers will be speaking in one voice.
“We, the farmers, constitute about 70% of the population of Nigerians, but we are voiceless. Our data is not something to give history about. We need to bring advisory board across the business sectors, across the policies and people with great experience. That is what we came to do today, and then to launch farmers data bank, and also to create a launch of the farmers helpline.
“Farmers don’t know where to lodge their complaints, but this time around, wherever they are, we have already unveiled a number where a common farmer anywhere he is can push his complaint and complain will be recorded. We can push his complaint to where the problem will be solved.
“The advantage of the digital ID card is that everybody knows that we are in the villages. If you want the data of farmers, you have to come to the Data Bank. All the commodity associations are the ones that own the data.
“For instance, if you are a maize farmer and somebody or any organisation comes to help or support the maize farmers or poultry or wherever, then it has to go through the president of that particular commodity. He has to scrutinise who takes what. Then, with his authority, then we give that data.”
He added: “The Association remains a key contributor to the Nigeria’s food security architecture and agricultural development, proudly standing as a pillar of the nation’s food system.
“The Advisory Board we inaugurated today is composed of eminent Nigerians with proven track records in agriculture, agribusiness, policy, technology, and finance. Their wealth of experience will provide AFAN with strategic guidance, fresh perspectives, and innovative ideas to reposition the farming sector as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy.
“This Board will serve as a bridge between our farmers and policymakers, ensuring that the interests of the millions of hardworking men and women who till the land are represented at the highest levels of decision-making.
“Significantly is the unveiling of the AFAN Digital Identity Card and Data Bank. For decades, the absence of accurate data has been a major obstacle in agricultural planning, resource allocation, and access to government and private sector support.
“With this initiative, every registered farmer in Nigeria will now have a unique digital identity that verifies who they are, what they produce, and where they are located. The Data Bank will provide real-time information on farming demographics, production trends, markets and investment opportunities.
“This will not only improve transparency and accountability but also enable farmers to access credit, insurance, inputs, extension services, and markets with greater ease. It is a bold step towards digitizing agriculture in line with global best practices.”
Also speaking, the National President, Poultry Association of Nigeria, Ichie Sunday Eze Obiora, said government policies have led to drop in prices of feed, frozen chicken and eggs.
However, he said the government policy of importing rice and other food items will affect local production and discourage farmers as a result of losing money in the process of farming to feed the nation.
On his part, the Head of Operations of Grotechnologies, the consultant for the database for farmers, Adeyemo Ayooluwa, said the platform will help farmers access loans and other benefits from the Bank of Agriculture.
He said there is need for every farmer across the country to be captured on the database in order not to miss out on opportunities by the government, saying the association has agents in different states to help even the most illiterate of farmers to be enrolled in the database.
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) is the umbrella body for over 82 Commodity-based affiliate Associations and other related Agricultural Organization’s, representing the interest of more than 15 million registered farmers and many undocumented farmers across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
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