By Fatima Muraina
|
In spite of the prevailing challenges, Ondo state farmers have vowed to end food scarcity in the state.
The State President of Farmers Congress who doubles as the Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr Abayomi Monilari gave the assurance in an interview with The Hope yesterday.
Monilari observed that the state is the most expensive state in terms of food purchase because everything is expensive.
He stated that farmers are fully prepared and have put in place mechanisms to boost production without waiting for any government assistance which he said was not forthcoming.
According to Monilari, farmers have formed themselves into cooperative groups to tackle the major obstacle in the area of finance and labor.
He applauded the state government on the formation of Amotekun which he said has added value to agriculture by reducing banditry and violent activities of herdsmen.
This, he confirmed has made a lot of significance and changes in the agricultural sector.
Farmers Congress and the All Farmers Association in the state have assisted farmers in various ways by giving them some inputs and seedlings.
His words: “We have given out 26,000 cocoa seedlings to each local government area, onions, tomatoes, castor seeds, Okra seeds to mention but a few.
He urged government at all levels to bring agriculture into the school curriculum as a way of catching them young, which he said is the farmers target for 2023.
” We want to do ‘catch them young’, by introducing agriculture in primary schools where some practical agriculture will be done as well as giving them some practical experience about farming.
Monilari, however called on the youths who have been trained to link with the association in few areas they could get assistance.
