By Samuel
The Southwestern arm of the Tomato Growers Association of Nigeria (TOGAN) has appealed to the Federal Government to provide farm implements at subsidised rates in order to boost production.
The group also called on the government to commence the disbursement of funds to approved farmers.
President of the association, Mr. Bamidele Ajani, who made the demand in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), urged the government to address their demands before the 2020 farming season closes.
He said, “Government and its agencies on agriculture need to be proactive, transparent and diligent in the discharge of their duties
“Virement of funds from agriculture headings to another government spending should be avoided, there is need to identify real/grassroots farmers from vendor farmers. Farmers’ provisions must not stop at Vendor farmers but real or grassroots farmers.
“For food security to be attained, the government needs to subsidise agriculture and all stakeholders should discharge their duties transparently.”
He further revealed that the group had planned to grow tomatoes at 1200m/tons all year round, so as to achieve food sufficiency.
The association had also trained farmers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) on the planting of hybrid F1 tomatoes, according to Ajani.
He noted that further training was ongoing, for the farmers, as the association has amassed 250 hectares of land in Atiba LGA, Oyo State, to achieve its “all-year planting using irrigation system” goal.
“We have applied to BOI for agricultural implements, we have been on it for three years now but hope to get it after COVID-19 pandemic issues, all preparation is geared towards GAP and global competitiveness,” he noted.
Ajani tasked farmers to play their part in specialising on a particular crop for production, as well as acquiring relevant knowledge on GAP in their areas of specialisation.
The world was moving towards advanced technology in all areas of life, including agriculture, he said while urging farmers to adapt to the paradigm shift.
