Agriculture
Insanitary Condition Of D-Line Fruits Market Worries Traders
Irked by the poor sanitary condition of the popular fruits
and vegetables markets in D/line area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, traders
have cried out to the appropriate government agency to take action to reverse
the ugly development.
Speaking to our correspondent recently some of the traders
who simply choose to speak under anonymity said the market was due for
rehabilitation and a new one built.
According to Edna (not real name) who claimed to have been
selling assorted types of fruits ranging from oranges, mangoes, banana for the
past 20 years, the market needs to be demolished and a new one constructed in
order to restore the sanitary condition of the market.
Another trader who gave her name as Judith said the management of the market
has over the years tried their best to convince the state and local governments
authorities of the need to upgrade the
market as according to her the present structures has outlived their
usefulness.
She said until something was done to restore the market to
its past glory, the respect accorded it as the only fruits and vegetables
market in the whole of the Niger Delta that services other nearby places would
be made meaningless.
For Mrs. Helen Joseph who buys wholesale and comes all the
way from Mbiama in the Ahoada West axis
of the state, the market was due for relocation as she was of the view that the
space could no longer accommodate the ever busy fruits market.
She said the market authorities should start a campaign of
relocation instead of reconstructing at the same location, “maybe at the
outskirts of Port Harcourt town to enable the market be larger than what it is
today”, adding that relocation would enable the market expand.
A regular customer to the market, Madam Helen who sympathised with the traders on the
poor sanitary condition observed that visitors
also suffered in no small measure.
According to her when
she arrives for shopping, she leaves her
driver behind after which they drive away, but when the sanitary situation
worsened, she used to send her driver and maid to do the shopping for her
especially during the raining season, and called on the appropriate authority
to take action.
Efforts to speak with the market union chairman as at the
time of filing this report was not successful as he was said to have gone on
official trip outside the state.
However a source at the market which is close to the market executive and needed not
to be named said the relevant government
agencies were being paid and expressed
surprise that they could not come to the rescure of the market
having gained from its existence for so many years.
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”.