AFAN Appeals For Allocation of Sobe Farm Settlement Slot
EDO State chapter, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, (AFAN), has appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to allocate prepared farm slot to its members at the Sobe Farm Settlement and other farm settlements across the three senatorial district as directed by Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The Chairman, Edo AFAN, Chief Emmanuel Odigie, made the appeal in Benin, after a courtesy call on the Commissioner, Hon. Monday Osaigbovo, at his office midweek by the association.
Chief Odigie who appeal to the state government for a permanent office accommodation in Benin City for the association, said, AFAN have acquired 20,000 hectares of farmland in Edo South senatorial district for commercial and cluster farming, which according to him, “the state government have promises to prepare the 20,000 hectares for the association.”
The Edo AFAN Chairman further appeal to the state government to give agricultural loans to farmers in fulfillment of Governor Obaseki’s promise during his governorship campaign in 2016, while urging it to revive all old farms settlement as well as build new ones.
The Edo AFAN boss who is also the Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of OGHODUA FARMS enjoined the state government to partner with agricultural consultant by purchasing land preparation equipment and give same to these consultants on “balance and carry” basis so that they can rent to farmers at a cheaper price to enable them prepare their farm land.
He disclosed that, the association have liaise with security stakeholders, herdsmen and cattle owners, in other to stop grazing on farmlands and killing farmers, especially women, adding that, the association have discovered a plant that will scarce cattle away from grazing on people’s farmland.
While noting that, the association have trained farmers in the state on how to farm on one land forever, without the application of chemical, he said, “We are not oblivious of the investment the Edo State government have put in revamping agriculture, such as the Anchor Borrowers Programme, Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme, and many others which include in no small measure are very important in this new agricultural revolution.”
Meanwhile, the Edo AFAN Chairman have commended Governor Obaseki for the plan construction and rehabilitation of rural roads to boost agriculture.
“The governor really try in his plans to construct earth roads in our rural areas, I must commend him because it will create employment, check rural areas for development, do not forget it will provide enough food even at a very cheaper rate,” he said.
Credit: The Nigerian Observer
