By Emmanuel Udodinma
Farmers in Kwara State have lamented that growth and development have eluded agricultural sector in the state calling for immediate restructuring to address issues of inflation and fuel subsidy removal.
Al-Mustapha Ibrahim, the Executive Chairman, Kwara Agriculture Network, in a statement, noted that the call is part of a communiqué issued after the farmers’ town hall meeting and opinions of industry experts, adding that the farmers have identified key areas where stakeholders including the Kwara state Government must improve to help its citizens cushion the increasing inflation and fuel subsidy removal.
According to the communique, issues associated with government bureaucracy, lack of innovations, poor funding of the sector, poor mechanization, poor access to farm inputs especially quality seeds and fertilizer and low access to processing and value addition facilities are key issues that should be addressed urgently, adding food security in the state is further threatened by soil degradation, ongoing flooding in some parts of the state, and problem of climate change.
“The current state of Agriculture has proven to be ineffective in addressing the needs of farmers and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
“As a result, we are calling for a repositioning of the sector to better serve the agricultural community and ensure the long-term success of the industry” it stated.
The group listed the challenges bedeviling the sector to include: Security threat; Inadequate funding resulting in limited capacity to implement programs and agricultural initiatives; Lack of maintenance for Agricultural machineries such as tractors, bulldozers, sprayers etc; High prices of poultry feed resulting in non-profitable ventures; Outdated technology and processes leading to inefficiencies and delays in decision-making; Political interferences for several agricultural interventions and schemes among others.
According to the group, government can tackle these through increase funding especially through provision of resources for irrigation for all-year round farming; Create, update, and utilize an up-to-date farmer data base which will be used as the SOLE basis for government Agricultural interventions; Partner with CSOs/NGOs in the distribution of grains and fertilizers to famers to accommodate farmers in rural and sub urban region of the state; Partner with research institution to provide a lasting solution to increasing prices of poultry feed among others.
The Network said there is need for government to also implement new policies and programs such as policies that addresses farmers-herders clash, to promote growth and development in the agriculture industry; Increase collaboration with local farmers and stakeholders to entertain feedback and evaluate of agricultural interventions; Conduct quarterly town hall meeting with farmers and stakeholders to ensure their needs are met; Distribute fertilizers and seeds to farmers through organized farmers’ cooperative; Procure and/or repair tractors, bulldozer and other farm implements for each of the local government of the state; Partner with Agricultural companies in adoption of latest agricultural technologies such as agricultural drones used for spraying to enhance farmers output and open a certified registration unit for Agricultural cooperatives across local government in partnership with relevant stakeholders.
On the timeline for restructuring the Network said that one month could be used for formation of a task force to assess the current state of Agriculture and develop a restructuring plan while implementation of new policies and programs could be between 6 to 12 months.
“The restructuring of agricultural sector will have direct Impact on farmers and consumers through improved food security, reduced poverty and cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal. Furthermore, an improved agricultural sector will bring about economic development, youth engagement and improve IGR of the state.
“Similarly, restructuring will result in more foreign direct investment and public private partnerships. Private sector-driven initiatives such as online Agricultural portal as well as farmer-centered mobile applications is long overdue in providing enabling environment for agriculture to thrive in the state” reads the communique in parts.
