Nigeria moves to safeguard farmers, investors in agriculture sector

Nigeria has taken proactive steps toward ensuring the safety of farmers and investors in the agricultural sector, an official said Monday.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Audu Ogbeh stated this in Abuja, the nation's capital city at the inauguration of a 2 million U.S. dollars Government/Private Partnership towards strengthening Nigeria's agricultural sector.

Ogbeh said plans were underway to engage the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) to provide security for the nation's big-time farmers and investors in agriculture.

The minister stated that unlike in Nigeria, farmers in other parts of the world live and work on their farms.

He said government was ready to encourage farmers to live on their farms through the provision of adequate security.

Ogbe said the government was working at preventing the movement of cattle-herdsmen from place to place in search of grazing.

He said ranches would be provided for herdsmen before the end of the year.

The minister also hinted that arrangement has been concluded to build more dams across the country to enhance irrigation farming.

He said Nigeria could also achieve the feat with the implementation of the project. Endit