Edo State in located the rain forest geographical belt this empowers the natural endowment of rich vegetation, which has made the state a food basket for the nation. Edo state has a rich soil and favorable climate, which helps in the production conditions for the farmers of the state. Agriculturists say, Edo is a all year round farming environment. And its good for an all- cultivation of a wide variety of food and cash crops.
Agricultural economists also add that, the state, being a gateway to the eastern, western and northern parts of Nigeria, has leverage for the good marketing of agricultural products.
Products such as pineapple, maize, pawpaw, cassava, banana, cocoa, rubber, rice, yam and plantain are among the items cultivated in all the senatorial districts of Edo state. Gov Adams Oshiomhole had raised the hope of Edo farmers in his 2009 budget speech, when he said that his administration will give the agricultural sector top priority.
A major program he promised will be funded for the sector is the replanting of Urhonigbe rubber plantation. Above all, “we will encourage and collaborate with private investors in the area of large-scale mechanized agriculture, through the provision of land and counterpart funding where necessary,” he promised.
The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Tunde Lakoju had also promised that the state would approach the development of the sector in a way that will create employment opportunities, boost food production and enhance revenue generation.
One year after, many Edo farmers, whose hopes had been raised, have begun to ask questions that beg for answers.
“So far, we are not seeing anything or hearing anything from the government. They have kept mute over everything concerning agriculture. This is where our worries begin,” laments a farmer, Izebigie Ojo.
John Oziegbe, another farmer, says that they are contending with problems such as lack of fertilisers, non-access to loans, low budget allocation to agriculture and non-payment of counterpart funds by the state government.
“All these have put us in a disadvantaged position as farmers in the state. We foresee a sharp decrease in our harvests this year and this will impact negatively on our income, aside from the likely food crisis,” he says.
The Chairman of the Edo All-Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Dr. Peter Okpere, says that the situation with farmers in the state is very bad.
“There was nothing like flag-off for the new planting season this year. This has never happened. We know that previous governments in the state did not concern themselves with the issue of agriculture, but we had hoped for something better from this government. What we are seeing now does not give us much hope,” he laments.
The Coordinator of AFAN in Edo North, Dr. Abdulahi Mohammed, says the state government is not giving the needed attention to the agricultural sector.
“The government does not even seem to recognise AFAN as a body,” he laments, stressing that the less than one per cent allocation to agriculture in the current budget does not hold promise for the desire to attain self sufficiency in food production.
“How do they even hope to create the needed employment they talk about through the sector if the funding continues like this? Everything is just wrong with the way government is taking the issue of agriculture. Apart from the counterpart fund for the Root and Tuber Expansion Programme (RTEP), which the government paid last year, no other counterpart fund has been paid,” he stressed.
Obviously agitated, Mohammed continued: “The Fadama III project, which has fully taken off in other states has yet to start in Edo. In fact, farmers and Edo State are missing out in the chance to tap into about N800 million because of the government’s failure to pay its counterpart fund of about N200 million.”
Mohammed further wants the state government to fulfill its promise of providing 73 tractors and fertilisers for use by farmers in the state.
However, Lakoju rose to the defence of government, saying that there is no iota of truth in the allegation that the Oshiomhole-led government is neglecting the agricultural sector. He debunks claims that the government does not recognise AFAN.
“They are the bedrock of our operation. The only reason why we are here is the farmers. If we do not recognize them, who else are we going to recognize? What the government has been doing in the past one year is to concentrate its little resources on critical areas like road construction and rehabilitation, as well as education.
“Unlike what obtained in the past, we do not want to distribute thin allocation to every sector and achieve nothing significant at the end of the day. We chose areas of immediate priority,” he says.
He continued: “We quite agree with the farmers that time is running out but it is no fault of ours that there are no fertilizers. There are problems to be sorted out with the federal government regarding fertiliser acquisition.
“I agree that the budget for agriculture in the current year is about one per cent but as soon as the issue of funds improves, more budgetary provisions will be made for the sector.
“Government cannot joke with the payment of counterpart funding since such payment helps to attract more funds. We have six programmes, including Fadama III project, that are counterpart-funded and we have put up a memo to that effect.”
Lakoju appealed to farmers in the state to remain calm and resolute, as government is duty-bound to change the fortune of all operators in the sector.
“It is the only way we can produce food for our people, as well as raise internally generated revenue. We are targeting the creation of employment opportunities through agriculture,” he assures.
For Mr. Paul Omoruvi, an agriculturist, many things need to be done if government intends to truly boost agriculture to the level it is in states like Kwara and Benue. He believes that Edo State already has the human capacity and the fertile land required for good agricultural engagement to create employment and ensure food security.
Omoruyi advises that any available fertilizers must not be entrusted to politicians, who in the past subverted their distribution to the genuine farmers.
“They should be evenly distributed around the state. Farm input shops should be available as well as communal farms. Seminars and capacity building should be embedded in the communal farm programme,” he said.
Sounding optimistic, Lakoju assured farmers in the state that they will have cause to smile very soon, as the government has launched into agricultural mapping of the state.
“The blueprint for agriculture is tailored on the vision of the governor, which is to eradicate poverty, create employment opportunities and use same a basis for revenue generation,” he says.
Agricultural economists share the optimism of Lakoju but insist that promises by government must go beyond mere words, so as to boost food availability in the country.
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