Agriculture
Potato Harvesters Applaud Agric End Point, Production
The harvesters of a local Potatoe farm in Rumuepirikom Community, Port Harcourt, have described the joy associated with harvest as commendable, compared to the stress put in during the farming processes.
The harvesters, who spoke to The Tide in a chat in their farms, said the only thing that cushions the stress and challenges of farming is good harvest.
One of the farmers, Mrs Oluchi Sunday, said potato yields well if it is planted on a good soil where there is enough sand.
She noted that the problem with farming and agriculture is lack of funds to purchase good seed and vast farm lands.
“Farmers need grants and not loans. We cannot meet up with loans which would be required back even before the crops mature for sales.
“This is why the loan applications are embarrassing most farmers who borrowed money from them to put in their farm businesses”, she said.
Another harvester, Mrs. Chimereodo James, said potato is very easy to plant and harvest, adding that one cannot compare it with vegetables that die at the touch of little flood.
Responding to the issue of mechanised digital farming, she said the State is lagging behind in agriculture, compared to other States, especially the Northern part of the country where government takes agriculture very seriously and even provides lands, tractors, seeds and funds to lure youths into mechanised farming.
She called on the Governor of Rivers State to execute the agricultural programmes as promised, adding, “his moves towards alleviating the plight of the people so far has been very encouraging”.
Another farmer who pleaded anonymity said the State is capable of diversifying her economy through agriculture, noting, “Etche alone if empowered can produce what can feed the State and also exports”.
He also called on agricultural associations to emulate what their counterparts in other States are doing to help their States and the nation at large.
Lilian Peters
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.