The group in their recent ongoing deliberation aimed at providing policy statement for the government of kogi state, is ready to provide strategy for government in a view to improve the lives of the populace.
Excerpts:
Kogi State is endowed with a large fertile agricultural land in addition to other resources that are panaceas to agricultural success like rivers, streams, lakes, forests etc as well as active population that can sustain a productive and profitable agricultural work force. This enormous resource base can support a vibrant agricultural sector capable of ensuring self-sufficiency in food and providing raw materials for the industrial sector cum providing gainful employment for the teeming population and generating foreign exchange through exports.
In spite of these endowments, the sector has continuously produced below its potentials, this is if great concern to our team (KLM) hence the reason for this policy document at this time.
AGRICULTURAL PROSPECT IN KOGI STATE.
The prospects for increased agricultural production in Kogi State are good because of the following factors:
– Abundant land resources for the production of crops, livestock and forestry products.
– Existence of a large domestic and international market for agricultural production.
– With fall in crude oil price globally, and reduction in federal allocation, agricultural sector offers kogi state an opportunity to supply alternate source of revenue.
– Agriculture can provide employment to about 60% of the population of the state, this would reduce unemployment because the sector is labour intensive.
– Agriculture would help to curb the effect of rural-urban migration which would help to decongest the state capital (Lokoja) and make life easier for people in the city and villages.
– Agriculture will also help the government to make more effort in developing the degrading infrastructural facilities throughout the state in attempt to ease movement of goods from one location to the other, this would lead to economic growth and development of the state. These and many more are the opportunities agriculture avails for Kogi State.
PROBLEMS MILITATING AGAINST AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN KOGI STATE.
Below includes but not limited to the problems confronting the sector in our dear state:
-The use of simple tools such as hoe, cutlass e.t.c is still prevalent which leads to low output. Also the low capital base of most farming enterprises in Kogi state had adverse effect on the adoption of appropriate technologies.
The reduction and outright elimination of subsidies on all agricultural machineries like tractors, harrows, harvesters and planters e.t.c. due to deregulation also affected. The situation compelled farmers to continue to use traditional technologies.
– Herdsmen/ Farmers Clash has an adverse effect on agricultural output emanating from such areas where it has occurred. This has also led to vandalisation and outright burning of expanse of cultivated farmlands, poor harvests, and wastage of agricultural produce.
– Insufficient funding to embark on large scale production is another. kogi state is predominantly occupied by civil servants and farmers however, this two occupation lack the necessary support from government as civil servant are being owned months of salaries thereby affecting the farmers whose products records low patronage.
– Deficient infrastructure: most of our roads are in bad shape which makes it difficult to move the produce to point of sales.
– Lack of storage facilities like silos by government and private sector has also discouraged a lot of farmers. making goods to perish before getting to the point of sale.
– Lack of Irrigation facilities: In kogi state, most of the LG are not into dry season farming because irrigation system is not practiceable in the state. The lack of irrigation canals in these areas is a concern for many farmers because they can only farm during raining season.
– Lack of mechanized equipment and illiteracy of most farmers is the reason why it is hard to implement modern farming methods. Many farmers still want to stick to archaic farm practices.
– Land degradation: Recently we have been witnessing land degradation which have affected agricultural yield and this have brought about majority of people diverting from the aerial crops farming into cashew plantation due to infertile land that we have in most part of Kogi East. our soil fertility is affected by water erosion and flood leading to low output, there is need for government to control the erosion and assist in supplying farm input that can improve the fertility of the soil.
– There are no qualitative programs/ Government policies to boost the Agricultural sector. Several programmes initiated in the past like cooperative when we were under benue state, agricultural development programme(ADP) , e.t.c have not been sustained.This and many more are the problems hindering the performance of the sector in the state.
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS:
Some of the key policy strategies being suggested for sustainable agricultural development in Kogi State are as follows:
– The irrigation system should be constructed in all local government in order to make agricultural activities all round season
– Proper drainage system should be constructed to curb erosion and flood
– There should be developed system of available loans at reasonable interest rate to farmers.
– The mechanization of agriculture is very vital to provide educated farmers with modern farm machineries at subsidized rate and to train illiterate farmers on the knowhow of mechanized farming system.
– Kogi state government as a matter of urgency should motivate farmers and form clusters in order to assist them assess loans from CBN and other Agricultural banks as its been done in other states under the agricultural credit guarantee scheme.
– Kogi state government should consider setting up the first cashew processing plant since cashew is predominantly grown in the state. Where products like cashew cream, juice etc can emanate and put to use most of the wasted part of cashew products.
– The agricultural research department under the state ministry of agriculture should effectively supervise, coordinate and implement agricultural development within the state as this will help to guarantee sustainability of the system.
– Kogi state government should introduce programmes that will provide incentives for able bodies youth to get involved in farming.
– Kogi state government should set up service stations as incentives for farmers to enable them take their tractors and other farming equipment for servicing and repair.
– There is need to improve on the maintenance and provision of required infrastructure, this is necessary to minimize cost of produce evacuation and input supply.
– There should be construction of storage facilities to minimize post-harvest crop losses and make food available at reasonable prices during off seasons.
Thank you.
Attention:
Kogi State Governor Alh Yahaya Bello
All Aspirants for the next gubernatorial election.
Ministry of Agriculture and its Commissioner
Rural Development Ministry
Private Sector
General Public
Appreciation:
Our special appreciation goes to:
Mustapha Mona Audu, who participated in the discussion series.
All Committee members namely:
Ameji Negedu Enemona
Barr. Michelle Eleojo A. Musa
Ayuba Ibrahim Aruwa
Arc. Edime Friday
Mrs Hidayah Bello
All Members of Kogi Liberation Movement.
For contact in case you want to contribute to our next publication or give relevant advise. Call 08066738811 Or 08068455765
Signed:
Salihu Adam Jiddah
Founder: Kogi Liberation Movement
