Lagos State Chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has decried the lack of adequate support from the Lagos State Government.
AgroNigeria gathered this at the association’s meeting which held on Thursday, October 8th, 2015 at the Lagos State Government Ministry of Agriculture Conference Hall, Oko-Oba, Agege.
The meeting which was well attended by members of different local governments of the state availed the members the opportunity of bearing their minds on what they termed ‘the deliberate exclusion of genuine farmers from the benefits of the state government’.
The Vice Chairman for Crops, Alh. Babatunde Bamgbala in response to enquiries on why the government has failed to recognise the efforts of the members by coming to their aid stated that the association had made several attempts to have meetings with the past Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture but was turned down repeatedly.
“The ministry rejected our letters saying they are not interested in farmers. However, we are happy that this new administration is taking agriculture seriously” he said.
Speaking on their preparation for the forthcoming World Food Day, the members took turns in lamenting their experiences during the 2014 World Food Day.
The Deputy Secretary of the association, Mrs Abimbola Francis narrated how her fishes and the wares of other members were damaged because there was no space allocated to them to showcase their products. According to her, all the losses were borne by them with no compensation from the government.
Another member of the association, A.S Musa from Ikorodu also decried how they made losses at the last forum due to lack of preparation for the farmers. He also said that the compensation meant for the farmers from the government never gets to them.
Taking a cue from the appointment of the former Lagos State CDC Chairman as a senior special assistant to the Governor on community matters, Musa proposed that an executive member of AFAN should also be appointed as Senior Special Assistant on Agriculture, if the government really wants to interface directly with the farmers.
He alleged that the ministry of agriculture has its own farmers (Biro Farmers) whom it channels all incentives and allocations meant for the genuine farmers to.
Mrs O. Adewunmi from Ikorodu North also stated that when she inquired from the Local Government Agriculture Department on its preparation for the forthcoming World Food Day celebration which is scheduled to hold on November, 16th, 2015, she was shocked to be informed that the Local Government will only sponsor four persons in the midst of hundreds of farmers in the area. She also noted that these four persons will surely be Biro Farmers.
In his reaction, the State Chairman Otunba Oke also narrated how AFAN in the past was refused access to host her meeting within and outside the premises of the Agriculture Development Authority.
He however stated that AFAN will not be deterred in any way, especially by any form of distraction and promised the members that the leadership of AFAN in Lagos state will not meddle her affairs with politics.
Otunba Oke also announced to the house that the Local Government Chapter Executives will be inaugurated on November 19th, 2015 and therefore called for sponsorship from confectionery industries, agribusiness firms and individuals to support the activities of AFAN.
From visible indications, the association also expresses hope that the current administration under the leadership of Governor Akinwumi Ambode will pay more attention to farmers.
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