Association Seeks Involvement In Farm Input Distribution

The Lagos State Catfish
Farmers Association of Nigeria (LASCAFAN) has called for the involvement of farmers’ associations in the distribution of agricultural inputs for optimal results.
The association’s President, Mr Babafemi Ajala, made the call in an interview with reporters in Lagos.
He urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to engage his association in the distribution of fingerlings and other inputs.
He commended the federal government for the effective distribution of inputs under the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS).
Ajala, however, observed that many farmers did not benefit because the farmers’ associations were not involved in the distribution.
“This year’s input distribution is not encouraging because the civil servants were put in charge.
“The 2013 programme was successful because associations were part of the distribution processes.
“Less than 30 members of LASCAFAN benefited from the input distribution this year because of the poor handling,’’ Ajala said.
The president alleged that the civil servants, who distributed the inputs, sold the items to unregistered farmers.
“I feel disappointed because those farmers who got the SMS to visit redemption centres for the items could not redeem their vouchers.
“The civil servants that did the distribution were busy selling juveniles and feeds to desperate farmers.
“I could not redeem my voucher. They, however, offered me juveniles to buy which I declined because it is against the ethics of the association.
“They even offered more than the 500 juveniles,’’ he said.
Under the aquaculture value chain of the GESS, each farmer gets 500 juveniles and five bags of cement, all at N12,500 each as against N25,000.
The aquaculture value chain was included in the GESS in 2013 and 840 Lagos State farmers benefited.
However, Mr Kayode Ashafa, the Lagos State Coordinator of GESS, defended the use of civil servants against the allegation of sharp practices in the inputs distribution.
He told reporters that though several aquaculture farmers were registered, there was a specific number of farmers to target for the year.
“In Lagos State, the Federal Government approved that only 880 aquaculture farmers should benefit from the 2014 scheme.
“By the time we give 880 farmers, we still had 3,000 that did not benefit.
“The number of people that can redeem their vouchers is therefore limited to that 880.
“So, obviously some people will not get and it is on first come first serve basis,’’ Ashafa explained.