Best Farmer Harps On Adequate Reward For Farmers

A foremost farmer in
the Rivers State, Mr. Ledogo Lucky has said that farmers in the state who perform creditably should be adequately supported by the government to enable them excel in their endeavours.
Lucky who spoke to our correspondent after being certified as the best farmer in the state during the World Food Day Celebrations in Port Harcourt said the practice whereby farmers were give little amounts of money for their feats was discouraging.
“Though I am not criticizing anybody but for a farmer to win the best prize in yam and cassava and go home with N10,000 is ridiculous.
“If I am the best farmer in Rivers State, why can’t I be given a tractor, bags of fertilizer and other incentives” he said.
According to him, government should select the best farmers in the state and use them as role models to enable them teach the younger ones.
He said the amount given to him could not even serve as transport for him and his staff back home.
He said is was ironical for him to win the best prize in yam and cassava and yet not happy.
“If it is done this way, no body would be encouraged to go into farming”.
“And then the World has come to know that I am the best farmer, why can’t I be given a tractor, good amount of money and enough fertilize,” he said.
According to the farmer who hails from Khana LGA, he has been trying to reach out to the government through the mass media on the need to properly support them.
It could be recalled that Mr. Lucky has severally won such prizes for more than three years running at such celebrations.