Alhaji Nuhu Aminu, Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kaduna State Chapter, says farmers’ membership of cooperative societies is a path toward improving their lives and enhancing food security.
Aminu spoke at the inauguration of new executives of Danmagaji Zaria Martaba Farmers Cooperative Society held in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The chairman advised farmers in the country to embrace membership of cooperative societies to boost food production and enhance their revenue base.
According to him, government is focusing attention on working with farmers, but that can only be done through cooperative societies.
“Remember, government cannot deal with people individually; rather, they only deal with people who organise themselves and unite as a cooperative society.
“Therefore, anybody or any group that is willing or wishes to benefit from government’s intervention should join farmers’ cooperative societies,’’ Aminu said.
In his speech, a representative from the Divisional Cooperative Office, Zaria, Alhaji Maikudi Umar, said cooperative societies are major stakeholders in many aspects of human development.
Umar said for any community to gain more benefits from government, it must strive to form cooperative society in its locality.
Earlier, the Chairman, Danmagaji Zaria Martaba Commercial Farmers Cooperative Society, Alhaji Hashim Ibrahim, said Agriculture was one sector that provided employment opportunities for all.
Ibrahim recalled that the cooperative society was established in March 2016 with a view to fostering unity amongst the members, to prepare them for commercial agriculture.
He said from the inception of the cooperative society, they were able to record some achievements, including cultivation of about five hectares of zobo field.
The chairman said members were trained in commercial agriculture by some staff of Kaduna Agricultural Development Project (KADP).
He said that some of the trained members got loans from the Bank of Commerce and Industries.
Ibrahim appreciated all members for their understanding, support and encouragement, urging them to continue to be law-abiding and to support government policies and programmes. (NAN)
