Farmers’ support: Former commissioner tasks govt on checkmating ‘portfolio farmers’
A former Commissioner for Lands in Delta, who is also a farmer, Mr Raymos Guanah, made the observation while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba on Wednesday.
NAN reports that portfolio farmers have mastered ways of enjoying government benefits, claiming to be farmers in need of them when they are not.
In the end, they sell back farming inputs they got as government subsidies or freebies to the genuine farmers, thus ripping them off.
Guanah, who is also the Chief Executive Officer, Raymos Guanah Farms, frowned at this situation and called on the government to come up with means of checkmating them.
According to him, the government must be proactive in identifying genuine farmers and supporting them accordingly, especially now that the planting season is here.
The former commissioner noted that identifying and supporting genuine farmers would not only increase food production but also help to ensure food security in the country.
”Now that the farming season is here, the government at all levels should be proactive to identify genuine farmers, group them into clusters and give them all the needed support.
”It is not everybody that is a farmer. The government should aggregate them state by state; local government by local government, and support them with necessary farm inputs, from land preparation to procurement of fertilizers and insecticides.
“For example, taking State A, identifying it with what type of crops such a state is known for, and if such a state is known for the production of cassava, pepper, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, palm oil among others, they should be empowered accordingly,” he said.
Guanah also stressed the need to put in place some take-off measures that would help to salvage post-harvest losses.
According to him, they must have ready farm gates buyers, this will help to check the loss of farm produce and products.
“For the perishable ones, the government can decide to set up small cottage industries.
“By doing so, the government will be creating jobs for farmers as well as helping to process and market the produce,” he said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for his initiative towards food security in the country and advised that more genuine farmers should be impacted by the good initiatives.
