Agriculture
Farmers Blame High Garri Price On Inputs’ Scarcity
Some farmers in Rivers State have attributed the high cost of cassava flour, also known as garri, to the non-availability of farm inputs.
The farmers who spoke in a recent event to brainstorm over the high cost of the commodity in Port Harcourt, said the development could also be attributed to the reduction of manpower in contrast to the needed quantity for the teeming population.
They, however, called on the relevant authorities and other stakeholders to do the needful to redeem the state from the situation.
According to them, it was out of place to buy garri at exorbitant prices, especially in notable garri producing areas.
An indigenous farmer in the state, Mr. Clement Amadi, who spoke to The Tide opined that the number of farmers producing garri was not commensurate with those consuming the product.
He called on every Nigerian to engage in farming, irrespective of their occupations.
“In those days, we had enough farmers who produced cassava but today, a lot of people are out of it.
“This I think is because they are government workers”, he said.
A retired oil servicing company workers Mr. Irobikansi Uche, said the method used in farming at the present time needed to be upgraded, to commercial agriculture.
“This nation has outgrown predominantly manual agriculture method and we should look at mechanised farming system,” he said.
However, an agricultural business consultant, Mr. Alozie Loveday, faulted the attitude of farmers in the repayment of loans given to them.
He said such attitude by some farmers had been a major factor that could discourage the necessary agencies from giving out loans to farmers.
“It is no longer subsistence farming but massive production of cassava, and those farmers who receive loans are no longer paying as at when due,” he said.
Earlier, the commissioner for Agriculture, Rivers State, Mrs. Onimim Jacks, and her Youth Development counterpart, Mr. Princewill Ogbobula said the state was bent on assisting farmers to attain food security.
Stories by King Osila
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.
