Agriculture
Community Cries Out As Cattle Ravage Farms
The people of Aminigbokoi in Emughan Clan of Abua in the Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State have raised alarm over the destruction of their crops occasioned by indiscriminate cattle grazing on their farmland.
The chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC) of Aminigboko, Mr. Chukwudi Georgewill, who spoke to our correspondent over the weekend in aminigboko said that the unchecked activities of the cattle rearers on a daily basis had destroyed crops on the farms of helpless women.
According to him, the development was capable of formenting trouble between the cattle rearers and the community.
Mr. Georgewill said in order to check any breakdown of law and order in the community, the Rivers State Government and the local government council should take urgent steps to check the menace.
He said several efforts to check the excesses of the herdsmen have proved abortive as he alleged that the cattle handlers were always armed with dangerous weapons, and reacted violently even without provocation.
The CDC chairman explained that the Aminigboko people were known for their peaceful disposition that was why they were calling on the authorities to take appropriate action.
He also called on the owners of the cattle to identify themselves with the community so that when crops were destroyed by their animals they would be held responsible. A cross section of some of the indigenes spoken to corroborate the CDC Chairman’s claims.
According to Omanoye Osele, a subsistence farmer, the cattle rearers always carry dangerous weapons and when they destroy crops, nobody challenges them because of fear of being attacked.
For Miss Ima Benson and Ezo Motto, the story was the same. They said each time, they go to the farm, they were confronted by these animals which always block the track roads leading to their farms.
According to them, in some instances they were forced to return to their houses, leaving their farms at the mercy of the destructive animals.
However, when contacted on the issue, the paramount ruler of Emughan Clan, His Royal Highness, Thankyou Wariboko Obagana IV said that each time the cattle handlers were confronted they always proved adamant.
According to him, it was not lost on the community that the owners of these cattle were highly placed and dislodging them has been a big challenge for the community.
He said cattle grazing in the community was costing the peasant farmers losses yearly and called on the appropriate authority to come to their aid before the situation gets out of hand.
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”.