Agriculture
Cotton Farmers Migrate To Other Crops
Cotton farmers in Biu, Borno State, have attributed the decline in cotton cultivation to low patronage and poor pricing, forcing them to migrate to other crops.
It would be recalled that during the colonial and post independence era, Biu was the hub of cotton production in the country.
A farmer, Malam Ibrahim Modu, stated in Biu on Monday that cotton production was “a very good business” from the 1960s to 1980s before its production declined due to “change in government policy.”
He said he learnt how to cultivate cotton from his late father at an early age.
“I started cultivating cotton when I was barely 15-years-old, because my late father was a big producer of the crop.
“When I grew up, I also went into cotton production. In fact, I married my first wife, Asabe, with the money from the sale of cotton.
“In those days, the cotton board was responsible for buying all the cotton produced by farmers.
“As soon as it was harvest time, officials of the board moved round to buy cotton from farmers right in the farm,” Modu recalled.
According to him, the abolition of the cotton board left farmers at the mercy of cotton merchants, whom he said, bought the commodity at rock bottom price from farmers.
Another cotton farmer in the area, Mallam Ishaka Usman, corroborated Modu’s claim, saying that cotton merchants discouraged farmers from producing the crop with their style of business.
“All what they wanted was to maximise their profit to the detriment of the farmers.
“I stopped cotton production in the last eight years because it was no longer profitable,” Usman said.
Malam Umaru Waju, who also cultivates the crop, however, said that the situation had improved lately as buyers now offered reasonable price for cotton.
“The situation has improved, but farmers are still finding it difficult to make a break through in cotton production.
“I spent about N1,500 to cultivate cotton last year, but made a meagre profit of N200 at the end,” he said.
Waju explained that the situation had compelled several cotton farmers to revert to the production of other crops they considered more viable to cotton.
The Chairman, Biu Local Government Council Caretaker Committee, Alhaji Yusuf Adamu, admitted that the area had in the past been the nerve centre of cotton production in the country.
He also corroborated the views of cotton farmers that poor patronage had led to the decline of the crop.
“We realised that farmers are no longer interested in producing cotton, so we encouraged them to cultivate other crops by providing fertiliser and other inputs to them,” Adamu said.
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.
The Niger State Government has mapped out 10,000 hectares of farmland in Gbapo Community of Katcha Local Government Area of the State for smallholder farmers to benefit from the state government’s agricultural intervention programme.
Two thousand out of the 10,000 holders of the farmlands have already received inputs.
At a flag-off ceremony in Yinti Village, the facilitator of the programme, Shinkafan Nupe, Malam Idris Usman Makanta, assured the farmers of increased distributions to the mapped-out ten thousand (10,000) farmlands if farmers respond positively.
He explained that the commencement of the two thousand is to measure the positive response of farmers before obtaining full-scale support.
Malam Makanta stated that this initiative aligns with the farmers’ initial commitment through Niger Foods, whose mission is primarily geared towards establishing efficient and profitable agricultural businesses to support the present administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s quest to boost agricultural productivity in the state.
He also commended Niger Foods for their steadfastness and resilience in the effective implementation of the input financing scheme.
Makanta reiterated the commitment of the State Governor in making judicious use of the arable land in the state.
Shinkafan Nupe, therefore, urged the farmers to support the Governor by using the inputs wisely so that the dream can be actualised.
The Gombe State Government has empowered a total of 573,429 farmers and entrepreneurs under the 4th phase of the GO-CARES programme.
The programme was officially flagged off by Governor Inuwa Yahaya in another major step towards alleviating poverty and supporting the state’s vulnerable populations.
The Governor, while inaugurating the disbursement in Akko Community of Akko Local Government Area, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Salihu Baba Alkali, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee on GO- CARES implementation.
“The 4th phase of GO-CARES will directly and indirectly impact a total of 573,429 citizens across the state. Of these, 152,429 individuals will benefit directly through cash transfers, livelihood grants, agricultural inputs, and operational grants to small businesses”, he stated.
The Governor added that, “421,000 people will be indirect beneficiaries through infrastructural projects such as classroom blocks, healthcare facilities, WASH services, and rural infrastructure projects like culverts and drainages”.
Yahaya, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable citizens are not left behind in the state’s development.
According to him, “Earlier this year, on June 25, 2024, we flagged off the distribution of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and herbicides to less privileged farmers in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, signaling the commencement of the 4th phase implementation of GO-CARES under Result Area 2”.
The Governor reiterated that these initiatives have had a significant impact on the livelihoods of beneficiaries and the overall agricultural sector.
He explained that, “Today’s ceremony marked the simultaneous launch of activities under all three GO-CARES Result Areas for the 4th phase. These areas include: State Cash Transfer Grants: 2,500 direct beneficiaries; Labour Intensive Public Works: 2,700 direct beneficiaries; Livelihood Grants: 10,000 direct beneficiaries; and Basic Services: 405,000 indirect beneficiaries”.