…urges farmers to remain self-reliant
Farmers have been encouraged to remain self-reliant rather than demanding timely provision of improved seedlings and other agric inputs from the government to guarantee successful 2026 cropping.
Speaking in an interview with THE HOPE, the chairman of Ondo State Sunshine Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Prince George Oladapo, commended government’s provision of subsidised agrochemical inputs to farmers aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, despite occasional delays in distribution.
Reacting to the availability and timing of agrochemical supplies to farmers, Oladapo acknowledged that while the inputs do not always arrive when expected, beneficiaries are still able to make effective use of them.
He said, “It is not all the time that it comes at the desired time, but all the same, we are able to make use of whatever is given to us.
“It is being subsidised for people who want to use agrochemicals on their farms. It is a wonderful intervention, and not only from the state government; some of the support is also coming from the Federal Government.”
Addressing concerns over the timeliness of the intervention, Oladapo explained that the relevance of the distribution schedule depends largely on the farming season individual farmers intend to pursue.
He added, “Sometimes it is late, sometimes it is timely. It depends on the farming season you want to embark on. Some go for the wet season and some for the dry season. It depends on the preferred season you want to undertake.”
Oladapo stressed that farmers should not depend entirely on government-supplied inputs for their farming operations, adding that
the intervention should be viewed as supplementary support rather than an entitlement.
He said, “As a practising farmer, you don’t have to put all your hope and trust in getting your agrochemicals from the government. If it comes, it is only an addition. You are not planting for the state. What they are doing is assistance, and naturally it will take time because there are procedures involved.”
He explained that agrochemical distribution follows due process through the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant channels before reaching beneficiaries.
He warned, “It is not something you say is your right. It is an assistance to help farmers. It is an aid to make our productivity higher.”
Offering advice to farmers, Oladapo maintained that agricultural producers should take responsibility for sourcing essential farm inputs, while appreciating government support whenever it becomes available, adding, “If the government says come and take these agrochemicals and other incentives, it is an addition. It is an improvement on what you already have on the ground. It is not your basic right as a farmer in the state that you must get agrochemicals from the government. It is not automatic.”
His remarks come amid ongoing efforts by both the Federal and state governments to support farmers with subsidised agricultural inputs aimed at improving food production and strengthening food security across the country.