Olu Samuel,Lokoja
The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has called on All Farmer’s Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector value chain to deliberate on the pathway towards a more prosperous and sustainable agricultural practices in Kogi State.
He said this is related to concerns over food security and other economic challenges in the country.
He made this known when he held meeting with all Farmer’s Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector value chain at the Glass House, Kogi State Governnent House, Lokoja.
The stakeholders’ meeting led to key resolutions where Governor Ododo outlined practical measures to address some of the identified challenges as he assured of the resolve of the Kogi State Government to ensure that the state emerges top in agricultural outputs.
Some of the key areas of immediate interventions outlined by the Governor include addressing the challenges of insecurity facing farmers particularly in the grass root areas, the Governor promised to provide adequate security for farmers through stronger collaboration with security agencies and local security interventions in the state.
The Governor also noted that his administration will ensure that farmers in Kogi State have direct access to subsidised farm inputs including fertilisers.
He urged the farmer’s association to create a robust and comprehensive database, through which farmers can receive interventions directly and without interference from middlemen.
Governor Ododo also revealed that plans are ongoing to ensure that access roads are created and paths to farmlands are cleared by the government, particularly in strategic areas where major commodities are produced in the state.
In addition to his commitment to ensure that the state government serves as the primary off-taker of farm produce in the state, Governor Ododo said investors in the agricultural sector will be encouraged to establish processing plants in the state to provide employment and also make the people of the state key players in the agricultural value chain in the state.
Governor Ododo equally announced a Technical Committee to take stock of all the tractors procured and handed over to Local Government Areas in the state.
The Governor said the state government procured farm implements to be be put to use by farmers in the past but the feedback from farmers indicate that more needs to be done for farmers in this regard.
The Governor therefore urged the technical committee comprising the Commissioner for Agriculture, the State Auditor-General and the Auditor-General for Local Government to take stock and report the status of all farm equipment particularly mechanised tractors to the government.
Governor Ododo said his administration will commence clearing of hectares of land for farming across the state while also providing improved seedlings for better yield in the next farming season.
He affirmed that the state government now has a harmonised revenue collection system which was signed into law by the immediate past administration.
He urged the Commissioner For Agriculture to liaise with the Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Services to resolve such concerns by farmers immediately.
While assuring that the meeting with the farmers would be held regularly to monitor key performance indices in the agricultural sector, Governor Ododo urged the farmer’s association to leverage on their collective strength to advocate for policies, programmes and initiatives that promote the interest of small scale farmers, empower rural communities and grant women inclusive growth opportunities in the agricultural value chain.
The Governor used the opportunity to plead with Nigerians, and residents of Kogi state to be patient with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu noting that the federal government was doing its very best to resolve the current challenges faced by the country.