SMALL-SCALE FARMERS ARE THE REAL FARMERS — AFAN TARABA CHAIRPERSON TELLS GOVERNMENT
Mohammed Tikka
The Chairperson of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Taraba State chapter, Hajiya Laraba Wambai, has called on the government to focus more to small-scale farmers, describing them as the real drivers of food production in the state. She said small farmers are the ones facing the harsh realities of farming and deserve every form of support from the government.
Speaking on the challenges of the current farming season, Hajiya Wambai noted that although government agricultural programs are usually introduced with the intention of reaching all farmers.She gently appealed for measures to ensure that genuine small-scale farmers, who play a vital role in food production, are not left out of these important interventions.
Hajiya Wambai further warned against the growing number of what she described as “armchair farmers”, people who do not farm but buy harvests from struggling small farmers, hoard them in stores, and later claim to be farmers when government support or recognition is being given out.
“These armchair farmers are not contributing anything to the production of food. The real farmers are the small-scale farmers you see sweating it out on the farm every day. They are the ones who deserve to be supported, appreciated, and empowered,” she added.
In addition, she commended the Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency Dr. Agbu Kefas, for his prompt interventions in the agricultural sector. She also appealed to the government to assist farmers with agricultural equipment that can help mitigate the effects of drought such as sprinklers and other irrigation machines useful for dry-season farming.
Furthermore, she called on all tiers of government, federal, state, and local, to support farmers by providing timely essential farming inputs and other vital resources that will boost productivity and enhance food security.
The Chairperson also emphasized the need for easier access to loans and farming grants for small farmers, saying this will encourage them and help them overcome the many hurdles they face during the planting season.
As the rainy season sets in fully, many farmers across Taraba State are expressing fears over the rising cost of farming inputs and the uncertainty of getting good market prices for their produce.
Stakeholders like AFAN believe that unless the government makes deliberate efforts to empower small-scale farmers and put machineries that can add value to Agricultural end products,Taraba agricultural potential will remain underutilized, and food production may suffer setback.
