Date: 2017-05-29

Farmers across the state under the Umbrella of Kwara Agricultural Practitioners Association (KWAPA) in conjunction with Agriculture and Allied Employees Union of Nigeria (AAEUN) has called on the state government to disburse agricultural loans to farmers in cash as against the supply of farming tools, fertilizers and chemicals.

They also alleges that loans and grants meant for farmers are being hijacked by those they referred to as portfolio farmers thereby denying the real farmers benefits of such loans. It would be recalled that Isiaku Aliyu-Adams, Chairman, Kwara House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, had denied the allegation that the N1billion Agric Loan, which the state secured, had been dispensed to politicians.

Aliyu-Adams had revealed that the loan was never hijacked by politicians or given to "political ranchers". The House had in January 2017, affirmed the demand of Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed to get N1 billion credit from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to lift agric-business in the state.

Since the endorsement of the loan, there have been hypotheses from many quarters that the credit would be dispensed to "political agriculturists", allegedly as was the case in the past.

The state Chairman of AAEUN, Comrade David Kehinde Ehindero, who spoke during the inauguration of KWAPA's new Executives held at Agric House, Ilorin on Thursday, stressed that giving cash to farmers will be preferable and would allow for judicious utilisation than if supplied with farming machineries and fertilizer as loans.

He said "forming a professional association like this is mainly to assist members in boosting their farms productivity and cover their welfare. "All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAAN) has now been politicised and frangmanted into different factions.

"The problems of farmers lies on training and motivation by the government among other sundry issues. But farmers loans and grants are now being hijacked by portfolio farmers leaving the people that are actually into the business without assistance.

"Government should give farmers loans and grants in cash where the farmers who know the size of their cultivation can judiciously make use of the money. This is because loans in form of supplying of farming machineries, chemicals and fertilizers are always exaggerated by the government agencies.

He challenged the Kwara state government to be sincere about the N1billion loan which is being processed and be open to in dispensing the loans to the beneficiaries. He equally tasked the state government to clear the virgin lands available across the states for people to take advantage and venture into agric sector.

The newly elected Chairman of KWAPA, Comrade Martins Abayomi Ajiboso during his acceptance speech said "the most qualification trend of being a member of this association falls within the acceptable definition of agricultural practitioners that plays a key role in enhancing commercial activities in terms of crop cultivation, livestock farming and availability of mechanised equipment.

"The association partners with both state and federal government in reviewing and formulating agricultural policies in the country, he added.

The Chairman stressed that some of the objective of the association include reduction and control of middle men activities which is detrimental to the ordinary farmers.

Stating further that "We will seek for new technologies through partnership with the government at all levels, international NGOs and multinational agricbusiness organisations for the benefits of our members."