Consultant Advocates Subsidised Agric Machinery For Farmers

Mr Oladare
Olaloye, a Lagos-based farm management consultant, has  urged the Federal Government to improve agricultural machinery and make them available to farmers at subsidised rates.
Olaloye stated this in Lagos that removing duty on imported agriculture machinery and processing facilities was not enough.
He said that the government could assist farmers by empowering them with machinery directly.
“Farm mechanisation is an elaborate enterprise and should not be left in the hands of farmers alone.
“Most farmers cannot afford the equipment needed to increase farm productivity due to the high cost.
“Even some of the farmer’s associations who work in groups, cannot afford to raise enough money to buy the necessary equipment needed.
“This will help grassroots farmers who manually grow and harvest their produce because they do not have access to modern technology, ‘’ Olaloye said.
He said that the government could partner with private organisations in the country to manufacture some of the equipment.
The consultant also appealed to the government to look into the issue of infrastructure, saying:” We also need adequate power supply for the effective use of these machines.
“There should be adequate facilities for the repair of the farm implements and equipment.’’