Farmers in Kwara State have expressed concerns about the lack of progress in the agricultural sector and have called for immediate reforms to address challenges related to inflation and the removal of fuel subsidies. The Executive Chairman of Kwara Agriculture Network, Al-Mustapha Ibrahim, highlighted that these concerns were outlined in a statement following a farmers' town hall meeting and input from industry experts.
The farmers identified various critical areas requiring improvement by stakeholders, including the Kwara state Government. They stressed the need for the state to take action to mitigate the impact of rising inflation and fuel subsidy removal. The issues addressed in the statement include government bureaucracy, innovation deficiencies, inadequate funding, limited mechanization, poor access to quality farm inputs, and insufficient processing and value addition facilities. Additionally, concerns about soil degradation, ongoing flooding, and climate change's adverse effects on food security were raised.
The statement emphasized the need to revitalize the agricultural sector to effectively meet the needs of farmers and promote sustainable practices. The challenges facing the sector were categorized as security threats, funding inadequacies, lack of maintenance for agricultural machinery, high poultry feed costs, outdated technology, and political interference. The farmers proposed solutions such as increased funding for year-round irrigation, maintaining an updated farmer database, collaborating with NGOs for distribution, and implementing policies to address conflicts between farmers and herders.
The statement also called for forming task forces to assess the sector and develop a restructuring plan within a month, with policy implementation spanning 6 to 12 months. Restructuring the agricultural sector is expected to lead to improved food security, reduced poverty, and economic development. Furthermore, it is envisioned that these changes will attract foreign investment, stimulate private-sector initiatives, and create an enabling environment for agriculture to thrive.
