By Onogwu Muhammed.
The developments in the field of agriculture and the efforts for the betterment of farmers made under the guidance of Governor Yahaya Bello Of Kogi State are bearing fruits. The efforts of the last 2 years have brought about a qualitative change in the life of farmers with increase food production and agricultural business in Kogi State. The Bello government has brought about a new methodology and a transparent work culture in Agriculture, just like in other sectors.
Kogi State government has acted in a time bound manner under the guidance of Governor Yahaya Bello by keying holistically into the agricultural policy of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. The schemes for farmers’ welfare are being implemented in mission mode. The new methodology of good governance, new ideas and an improvement oriented vision are paving the way for modernisation of farming in a new Kogi State.
The Bello government has been successful in changing the mind-sets of farmers and youths and increasing awareness among them. To improve the financial status of farmers, Governor Yahaya Bello has kept a goal before the state of doubling farmers’ income by 2020 through subsidy of agricultural input, micro agricultural loans to farmers, allocation of agricultural lands and seedlings to youths and so on. This is the first time that the Government Of The State has put a concrete goal of welfare of farmers. Under the leadership of Bello, effort to make Kogi food sufficient and the food hub of the nation is being put in place.
Without wasting time on assumption of office, Governor Bello gave the Ministry of Agriculture under Hon. Oloruntoba Kehinde, the commissioner, approval to embark on the clearing of one thousand (1000) hectares of land across the State, with locations such as Omi , Osara and other areas selected to enhance food production for the state.
375 Fergus Tractors with complete implements; Three quantities each for Mini Harvesters, Planters, Broom Sprayers, Rice Reapers and other similar equipments were all procured to facilitate agricultural activities. In addition to this; about one thousand five hundred (1500) tillers were procured, assembled and distributed to small scale farmers in the State last year. This effort has so far created over fifteen thousand (15, 000) jobs for the people of Kogi State across all activities necessary for successful implementation of government vision. The payment of counterpart funds by the State government apparently contributed in no small measure to facilitate the following: clearing and cultivation of three thousand (3000) hectares of land for rice cultivation and over five thousand (5000) hectares of land for cassava cultivation across the state.
Another drastic steps taken by the Bello administration to boost agricultural production in the State is the technologically driven Green House farm established at Osara to grow vegetables such as Cucumber, Tomatoes, And Other crops.
Under the Accelerated Agriculture Development Scheme (ADS) of the Central Bank of Nigeria, which the government of Governor Bello has keyed into by releasing counterpart funds, the Ministry of Agriculture has constructed 500 fish ponds as a pilot scheme and have been handed over to over 1000 youths across the State.
The ADS programme has empowered over 1000 youths through the allocation of earthen ponds for fish keeping in Idah, Omi and Adavi-Eba. In the same vein, over three hundred (300) youths would also be empowered in Akpata-Ega in Idah Local Government Area, where four hundred (400) ponds already built by the government would be handed over to them.
In the Central Senatorial District, Omi and Adavi-Eba communities got one hundred and fifty (150) earthen ponds constructed through the ADS for youths’ empowerment.
The programme as designed is meant to create one thousand (1000) jobs for youths in the State, both fish and cassava farming. From reports gathered this is the pilot scheme as the main project will be empowering 10,000 people in the days ahead.
To boost soil fertility for increase productivity, over seventy six (76) truck loads of inorganic fertilizer from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the State government have been taken and distributed to farmers at subsidized rates.
Today, cassava have become the hottest agricultural products in Kogi State as there exists market equilibrium for the product; increase in production with increase in demand. Bello’s effort in ensuring a safe Kogi State has led to the establishment of the largest ethanol company (Unicane) which major raw materials is cassava in Lokoja.
Cassava farmers have no stress in selling their product today as already market exists in the state.
Satisfied and moved by Agricultural revolution in Kogi State, the Federal Government chose Kogi as the pioneer State for the National Egg Production where over 135 youths are currently empowered with 4.2Million naira each to support their poultry farm.
Another remarkable agricultural development in Kogi State under the Bello led is massive cultivation of river banks for rice production. Under this scheme, the state government harvested thousands of tones of rice last year in addition to what it produce from Omi dam.
In another development, the state has flagged off the distribution of another set of farm input such as fertilizer and other agrochemicals to farmers. The train for distribution has gone to the west and central senatorial districts and will be moving to the east today, 3rd Of July, 2018.
Judging from the successes recorded so far by the government, one will agree that the government has done well in securing food, empowering and giving citizens a source of livelihood.
The coming years under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello, no doubt, would definitely place the State on the pedestal to become self-sufficient in agriculture.
What is therefore required now is for the people of the state to join hands with the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello to make the state the food basket of the nation.
