Lack Of Access To Capital Impedes Agric Development- Group

Farmers under the umbrella of the Vulnerable Group in Buruku, Gwer-West Local Government Area of Benue State say  lack of access to capital and inputs impede the agricultural development in the country.

The Chairman,   Mr Thomas Tapkum, made this assertion while speaking with newsmen in Buruku, Makurdi.

“The whole agricultural value chain from the farmers to the agro -processors and agro-dealers, is capital intensive.

“With the little funds we are able to generate through the farming of rice, yam, cassava and maize, some members of the group have gone back to school while others are into other profit-making ventures.

“No matter how small the income is, we have resolved not to beg; we are no beggars, we are making ourselves useful to the society; but banks are not helping matters,’’ Tapkum said.

He expressed regret that banks had yet to appreciate the potential of the agricultural sector and urged them to support rural farmers and vulnerable groups involved in farming.

Agriculture, he said, remains the only key for economic growth, prosperity and security of the nation.

Speaking along the same vein, Mr Gowon Chegu, a farmer in the area, decried the lack of government support and assistance, saying that the situation compelled them to rudimentary traditional farming methods, resulting to low yields.

However, Chegu admitted that they usually received financial support from private companies grow soya beans, who later purchased the produce at “ridiculous” prices.

“It is slave farming because they will determine the price at which you will sell the produce and in the end, you will be forced to do their bidding because you have to fend for your family,’’ he said.

He, therefore, urged the government to provide farmers with credit facilities and modern technolgy to enable them to expand their production for increased yields.

“Considering the importance of agriculture to economic development and achieving the MDGs, there is the need to give the sector constant attention by revitalsing smallholder farming in Nigeria,” he said.