Edo State in located the rain forest geographical belt this empowers the
natural endowment of rich vegetation, which has made the state a food
basket for the nation. Edo state has a rich soil and favorable climate,
which helps in the production conditions for the farmers of the state.
Agriculturists say, Edo is a all year round farming environment. And its
good for an all- cultivation of a wide variety of food and cash crops.
Agricultural economists also add that, the state, being a gateway to
the eastern, western and northern parts of Nigeria, has leverage for
the good marketing of agricultural products.
Products such as pineapple, maize, pawpaw, cassava, banana, cocoa,
rubber, rice, yam and plantain are among the items cultivated in all the
senatorial districts of Edo state. Gov Adams Oshiomhole had raised the
hope of Edo farmers in his 2009 budget speech, when he said that his
administration will give the agricultural sector top priority.
A major program he promised will be funded for the sector is the
replanting of Urhonigbe rubber plantation. Above all, “we will encourage
and collaborate with private investors in the area of large-scale
mechanized agriculture, through the provision of land and counterpart
funding where necessary,” he promised.
The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Tunde Lakoju had also
promised that the state would approach the development of the sector in a
way that will create employment opportunities, boost food production
and enhance revenue generation.
One year after, many Edo farmers, whose hopes had been raised, have begun to ask questions that beg for answers.
“So far, we are not seeing anything or hearing anything from the
government. They have kept mute over everything concerning agriculture.
This is where our worries begin,” laments a farmer, Izebigie Ojo.
John Oziegbe, another farmer, says that they are contending with
problems such as lack of fertilisers, non-access to loans, low budget
allocation to agriculture and non-payment of counterpart funds by the
state government.
“All these have put us in a disadvantaged position as farmers in the
state. We foresee a sharp decrease in our harvests this year and this
will impact negatively on our income, aside from the likely food
crisis,” he says.
The Chairman of the Edo All-Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN),
Dr. Peter Okpere, says that the situation with farmers in the state is
very bad.
“There was nothing like flag-off for the new planting season this year.
This has never happened. We know that previous governments in the state
did not concern themselves with the issue of agriculture, but we had
hoped for something better from this government. What we are seeing now
does not give us much hope,” he laments.
The Coordinator of AFAN in Edo North, Dr. Abdulahi Mohammed, says
the state government is not giving the needed attention to the
agricultural sector.
“The government does not even seem to recognise AFAN as a body,” he
laments, stressing that the less than one per cent allocation to
agriculture in the current budget does not hold promise for the desire
to attain self sufficiency in food production.
“How do they even hope to create the needed employment they talk about
through the sector if the funding continues like this? Everything is
just wrong with the way government is taking the issue of agriculture.
Apart from the counterpart fund for the Root and Tuber Expansion
Programme (RTEP), which the government paid last year, no other
counterpart fund has been paid,” he stressed.
Obviously agitated, Mohammed continued: “The Fadama III project, which
has fully taken off in other states has yet to start in Edo. In fact,
farmers and Edo State are missing out in the chance to tap into about
N800 million because of the government’s failure to pay its counterpart
fund of about N200 million.”
Mohammed further wants the state government to fulfill its promise
of providing 73 tractors and fertilisers for use by farmers in the
state.
However, Lakoju rose to the defence of government, saying that there is
no iota of truth in the allegation that the Oshiomhole-led government is
neglecting the agricultural sector. He debunks claims that the
government does not recognise AFAN.
“They are the bedrock of our operation. The only reason why we are here
is the farmers. If we do not recognize them, who else are we going to
recognize? What the government has been doing in the past one year is to
concentrate its little resources on critical areas like road
construction and rehabilitation, as well as education.
“Unlike what obtained in the past, we do not want to distribute thin
allocation to every sector and achieve nothing significant at the end
of the day. We chose areas of immediate priority,” he says.
He continued: “We quite agree with the farmers that time is running out
but it is no fault of ours that there are no fertilizers. There are
problems to be sorted out with the federal government regarding
fertiliser acquisition.
“I agree that the budget for agriculture in the current year is about
one per cent but as soon as the issue of funds improves, more budgetary
provisions will be made for the sector.
“Government cannot joke with the payment of counterpart funding
since such payment helps to attract more funds. We have six programmes,
including Fadama III project, that are counterpart-funded and we have
put up a memo to that effect.”
Lakoju appealed to farmers in the state to remain calm and resolute, as
government is duty-bound to change the fortune of all operators in the
sector.
“It is the only way we can produce food for our people, as well as raise
internally generated revenue. We are targeting the creation of
employment opportunities through agriculture,” he assures.
For Mr. Paul Omoruvi, an agriculturist, many things need to be done if
government intends to truly boost agriculture to the level it is in
states like Kwara and Benue. He believes that Edo State already has the
human capacity and the fertile land required for good agricultural
engagement to create employment and ensure food security.
Omoruyi advises that any available fertilizers must not be entrusted
to politicians, who in the past subverted their distribution to the
genuine farmers.
“They should be evenly distributed around the state. Farm input shops
should be available as well as communal farms. Seminars and capacity
building should be embedded in the communal farm programme,” he said.
Sounding optimistic, Lakoju assured farmers in the state that they will
have cause to smile very soon, as the government has launched into
agricultural mapping of the state.
“The blueprint for agriculture is tailored on the vision of the
governor, which is to eradicate poverty, create employment opportunities
and use same a basis for revenue generation,” he says.
Agricultural economists share the optimism of Lakoju but insist that
promises by government must go beyond mere words, so as to boost food
availability in the country.
