Oyetola, who was represented by his Deputy,
Mr Benedict Alabi, made the pledge during the flag-off of 2021 Cocoa Farming Initiative Scheme, on Thursday in Ile-Ife. He commended AFEX Commodity Exchange Limited and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for their support for farmers, assuring of sustained relationship for economic recovery and transformation of the state. Oyetola stated that his administration and AFEX would try all their possible best to reposition agriculture as the mainstay of the state s economy by bringing rapid development to cocoa value chain and promote agro produce in the state. According to him, cocoa is a major economic booster and revenue earner for the state.
Hot on the heels of the proclamation by the southern governors to ban open grazing, as already legally done in Benue, Oyo and other states of the federation with enabling laws
These farmers have continued to lament their inability to go to their farms, especially at the onset of the rainy season.
In Benue, most of the affected farmers in different local government areas of the state are worried about the situation, which they said might have repercussions on food production in the coming months.
While those in places like Guma, Makurdi, Gwer West, Logo, amongst other areas are languishing at different displaced persons camps, others from the Sankera axis are facing difficult movement following certain measures put in place by the Governor Samuel Ortom-led government to curtail insecurity bedeviling the area.
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Six years after the Federal Government launched the Anchor Borrowers Programme through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to assist in food production, the report card from the Southwest has revealed that some state governments expected to guarantee loans were reluctant to do so because they feared they would have to bear the burden should farmers default.
It was gathered that conditions attached to securing the loan did not favour Southwest vegetation, as the drafters of the conditions allegedly had northern farmers in mind. Stakeholders claimed inputs were released to farmers in Southwest at a time suitable for only northern farmers. They cited, for instance, that inputs were released late in the year, when northern farmers were
Ban on open grazing: AFAN, Agric stakeholder back southern governors Ban on open grazing: AFAN, Agric stakeholder back southern governors
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The National President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Arc Kabir Ibrahim, has said the position of the Southern Governors on open grazing would help boost the livestock sector.
Arc Ibrahim said the ban on open grazing by the Southern Governors would make the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) achievable.
He said that open grazing reduces milk and meat production in cattle, and also reduces ovulation in female cattle difficult and male unable to mate.