By Adeboye Ado
As the dry season begins, farmers in the Akoko area of Ondo State have called for the urgent rehabilitation of rural roads to enhance food production and distribution.
The farmers, while describing the just-concluded governorship election in the state as peaceful, also called for immediate action to improve access roads to their farmlands.
Chief Adebola Sarumi, a prominent farmer and patron of the Farmers’ Association in Akokoland, called on governments at various levels to rehabilitate rural roads to increase food production.
In an interview with The Hope, Chief Sarumi urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to prioritise rural road rehabilitation as a way of compensating the farmers for their unwavering support in the recent governorship election.
“The government should prioritise the rehabilitation of rural roads to support farmers like us. Good roads are essential for boosting food production and improving our livelihoods.”
“We urge Governor Aiyedatiwa to focus on rural road development as a way of appreciating the support we farmers gave him during the recently concluded governorship election in Ondo State.”
In the same vein, Mrs. Florence Adamolekun, a woman farmer and Secretary of the Akoko North West Local Government Farmers’ Congress, identified critical roads requiring attention, adding that dilapidated roads had contributed to the spiralling cost of food items.
“Bad roads have affected the transport of farm produce, as drivers no longer come to our areas. These roads include: Irun to Surulere, Ipesi to Ebomi Lake, Okeagbe to Igashi, Ikare to Awara, Abadare, and Otaloke.”
The farmers, however, noted that the rehabilitation of these roads would significantly increase food production and foster rural development in the areas.