* Southwest Governors after their meeting
By Pathfinder Reporter
Saturday, July 6, 2024
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Governors of the Southwest states had a meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital recently to plan for massive food production to tackle hunger and skyrocketed prices of foodstuffs in the region.
The meeting, which was conveyed by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, provided the opportunity for the states to exchange ideas on how best to increase food production in the region.
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Reminiscent of the pre-independence period and the First Republic when agriculture was the mainstay of the regional economy, the states are to accord priority to rice, maize, cassava, and poultry farming.
Also, moribund dams in the region are to be revitalized for irrigation.
The governor operating under the auspices of the Southwest Governors’ Forum has directed their agriculture commissioners to quickly build on the plan developed during their meeting in Ibadan in May.
The Governors planned some strategies, including clearing of large farmlands in preparation for planting, creation of farm units, strengthening of the security outfit, Amotekun, to provide security for farmers and their farms, and large-scale production of short-term crops, including maize, sweet potatoes, and vegetables.
They also agreed to revitalize moribund dams for irrigation, improve mechanization across the value chain, adopt a cluster farming model, expand input distribution, and establish an electronic agriculture database.
Each state agreed to support farmers to clear farmlands in cluster positions to the tune of 1,000 hectares each at the minimum, a source said.
The idea of cluster farming, which has the advantage of economy of scale, will also make it easier for Amotekun to secure the farms, ease off-taking of produce from farmers, and eliminate middlemen, thereby ultimately reducing food prices.
According to the sources the states may concentrate on rice, maize, cassava, and poultry farming for a start to ease the pressure of food inflation.
The states agreed at the Ibadan meeting on the need to return to cluster farming as a solution to insecurity and key to economy of scale.
The states will engage smallholder farmers and support them with clearing, seeds, and security.
The states also agreed to develop irrigation to move the region from rainfall farming to all-year farming.
It was learned that Ekiti State has already taken the lead by clearing many acres of land.
Oyo State is said to be offering farmers an incentive of clearing one acre of land free for one acre cleared by a farmer.
The states are also to strengthen and enforce anti-grazing laws to increase the confidence of farmers.
The governors are expected to submit their plan to the president who has indicated the willingness of the Federal Government to support the states in food production.
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