By Kehinde Oluwatayo
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Farmers under the aegis of Fadama III Additional Financing have been commended for the harmonious relationship between them and herders in their communities.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Otunba Adegboyega Adefarati gave this kudos while performing the oversight function on the implementation of Fadama III Additional Financing.
The Commissioner, who led the Ministry’s officials and Fadama staff to inspect Fadama on-going projects and farms of beneficiaries, visited the 20 hectares cassava farm of Iju-Ifedapo Cluster in Akure North Local Government Area where farmers have attributed the success recorded in their farm operation to largely the peaceful and harmonious relationship between them and the Fulani herdsmen.
The Fadama farmers said the non-intrusion of Fulani herdsmen with their cows into their farms was as a result of the peaceful gestures exhibited by both parties.
According to the Production Cluster Chairman, Ajewole Ajisafe the Fulani herdsmen in this area have been very peaceful and cooperating due to our peaceful tendencies towards them’ Ajisafe added that Fulani herdsmen in their community have been operating in the area without incident of farm invasion by cows.
He said friendliness towards the herdsmen which has been reciprocated over- time has been the recipe for conducive mutual relationship.
Adefarati urged the farmers to continue to support the Governor Akeredolu led administration in the State so as to enjoy dividends of good governance. He said the farmers were able to access the Fadama assistance due to the State Government’s support to the Project by prompt payment of the State counterpart contribution.
The Commissioner announced that the Government will soon enact enabling laws that will prevent the incessant farmers/herders conflict from happening in the State.
Adefarati, while inspecting the installation of the 14tonnes per day capacity rice mill funded by the Fadama Project at Ogbese said rice farmers in the State are capable of meeting the needs of the State in terms of rice consumption.
He expressed satisfaction with the level of job done at the factory. While announcing the State Government’s planned partnership with the Lagos State Government on rice production.
In his words: “the Lagos State Government just as it is doing with Kebbi State, is coming to Ondo State to partner with us in the production of rice which I believe will enhance the economic wellbeing of the people of Ondo State.”
He said the Fadama sponsored rice factory will be processed and packaged to reflect a made in Ondo State rice.
The monitoring tour also took the Commissioner to the Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprise which is jointly funded by the State Government and the Fadama Project.
When commissioned, the Enterprise will give farmers the opportunity to hire Agricultural equipment at a reduced price.
Three of such Enterprise is being established in the State.