Stakeholders in Agric business seek better support for vegetable farmers
Seek standardization of vegetable farming
There is the need for Federal and State Governments to institute a well structured system that will provide a standardized procedure for vegetable farming in Nigeria.
In addition, an immediate centralized market must be created by government for all vegetable produces to ensure regularization of price and access to healthy products.
These and many more are resolutions reached by farmers, consumers and experts in Agric business during a summit organized by RAFI to educate its new graduands on the challenges and prospect of farming.
At the summit held in Ado Ekiti, the panelists believed that the proposed standardization will give room for quality control, enhance food production and encourage more youths to venture into agriculture.
The panelists affirmed that farming remains the best profession that could surmount the challenges of poor economy, unemployment and poverty urging government to invest more in agriculture and support farmers with necessary tools and fund to enhance their productions.
Among the panelists are Mrs Oni, Mr Tunji Lawrence Aribasoye, Mr. Olabode Adetoyi who is the commissioner for Agriculture in Ekiti State
Mr. Akin Peters Adewale, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi and
Ifeoluwa Olatayo.
The panelists identified lack of access to tools, insecurity, labour, lack of market and cost of production as major factors militating against farming profession and such must be looked into by government if it really desire to achieve food security.
One of the panelists who represented consumers, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi sympathized with farmers over the numerous challenges facing them but stressed the need for production of quality organic foods due to its importance.
She explained that food consumption constitutes 60% of various health challenges in the society hence there is the need for farmers to do more in providing healthy produce and access to vegetables.
In his remark, the commissioner for Agriculture in Ekiti State Mr. Olabode Adetoyi commended RAFI for putting up the programme and appealed to more youths to embrace agriculture following the proper laid down procedures.
Mr. Olabode noted the various challenges confronting farmers with a promise that government would continue to work harder to give them the necessary support to enhance their production.
According to him, the government of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi places premium on agriculture due to its enormous benefits.
He urged youths interested in Agriculture to apply for land to farm in some of the already opened spaces by government.
He however announced that government would soon clamp down on eateries and hotels making use of unhealthy vegetables procured at cheap rates from the open markets to prepare food for the public.
Earlier, the convener of the summit, Mayowa Ekundayo known as farmer Lawrence said the initiative was to create a platform for stakeholders to share experiences, brainstorm and reach a compromise on how best to go about farming in a profitable manner.
He advised youths to stop looking for white collar job which is not available but venture into vegetable farming to make ends meet for themselves.
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