Maryam Abubakar Gulma in Lokoja.
(C). Business day NG.
The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has assured all inclusive support for All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kogi State chapter to boost food and check high food inflation in the state.
He gave the assurance at the Government House, Lokoja when he met with members of the association in Monday and appreciated farmers for their tireless efforts in feeding the nation.
The governor,who noted that it was imperative to address insecurity, farmers’difficulty in accessing marketing, coupled with poor infrastructure, expressed the commitment of his administration to work with the farmers in the state to change the narrative.
He, however,called on them to utilise the opportunities in agriculture , adding that doing so would bring about a situation where many people would have jobs and farmers’ livelihood , improved among other benefits.
The governor reminded farmers they hold the key to development of Nigeria, pointing out that his administration would provide them security, access roads for them to embark on enhanced marketing to boost their productivity and food security.
The Governor, therefore, directed the relevant agencies in the state to come up with comprehensive farmers’ database to facilitate success of government’s plans to boost food production.
According to him, the state government will commence pilot scheme, soon, for enhanced food production.
He said,” We must produce what we eat, we need collective efforts to collaborate with the farmers’ going forward.”
He called on the Auditor General for the State, Auditor-General for the local governments,Commissioner for Agriculture to look into the possibility of tractor procurement for farmers.
Ododo vowed to fight unpatriotic elements that cheats farmers but pleaded with the farmers to exercise more patience for the state to recover from the current situation, assuring them that his administration would clear more farmlands to enable farmers access such factor of production with ease as well as afford the opportunity of improved seedlings.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Timothy Ojoma, said the meeting was to engage in dialogue between farmers and government and to stress the
pivotal role of agriculture in sustaining livelihood.
Ojuma said farmers, being the backbone of agricultural industry,
their contribution in agro business and logistics cannot be over emphasized in moving the state forward.
He said the government would be clearing 100 hectares of land across 21 Local Governments,soon,to creat more jobs for youths and women and address the food insecurity in the state.
Alhaji Salihu Momoh, the state Chairman of AFAN pleaded with the state government to ensure availability of massive land for rice cultivation, funds for fertilizer, seedlings, tractors, security,office, agricultural funds, among other demands.
The Chairman, Rice Farmers in the state, Abdullahi Alhaji Salihu, said that seven states depend on Kogi State for Rice, adding that the state needed improved seedlings to meet their demand.
The chairman,who noted low level of mechanized farming in the state, and expressed concern that many farmers used crude tools, coming out with reduced yield, called on the state government to create access to farmers to secure loans for farmers,not through commercial banks.
Edited by Dawud Ahmed.
