By Abimbola Joseph
CITIZENS COMPASS – Ikorodu Local Government in collaboration with Lagos-CARE and FADAMA says it has extended its COVID-19 intervention programme to farmers across the council’s jurisdiction.
The Local Government Agric desk officer, Mrs Opeyem Agbaje, stated this, during a meeting held at Protouch Hotel, Gberigbe, Ikorodu.
She said the idea was to enlighten farmers about the programme and for disbursement procedure of the relief materials in respect to plan by the agencies to cater for farm households and food markets.
“We mobilised over 150 farmers who are divided into fifteen groups because of the way things are, we decided to take it in batches with five groups per batch.
“FADAMA is a programme meant to help farmers with inputs and training, that was why N-CARE came through FADAMA because that is their work.” She said.
Agbaje said the meeting is for the agency to be certain about the physical existence of the farmers and their farms before disbursement can commence.
Lagos-CARE and FADAMA cannot just proceed into bringing those things, they want to be sure if they are farmers and the items get to them.’’ she said
Addressing the farmers, FADAMA Lagos Chapter Safeguard Officer, Mr Olumuyiwa Senapon, expressed his condolences to the farmers over their losses during the COVID-19 pandemic while explaining the plan of the initiative.
“We all know Lagos; the CARE has to do with COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programmes.
“This is a World Bank initiative in collaboration with the Federal Government and states, each state have domesticated the CARE.
“Here in Lagos, we have Lagos-CARE just as other states have theirs.
“We are all aware of the havoc that COVID-19 wrecked; the government has realise that those who are affected need to recover from the shock.
“That is why we have to meet the farmers who are affected.” Senapon said.
Similarly, Lagos-CARE Communication Officer, Mrs Adeyemi Bewaji, revealed that the physical meeting was an attempt by the initiative to ascertain whether the farmers are real or not.
“The essence of meeting them in person is to prevent what we call political farmers. We want to be sure that they are indeed real farmers.
“This is just like a business aimed at improving the lives of the farmers and also the economy.
“It must reflect in our economic development because if it doesn’t, our bosses from Abuja may come down here to confirm if indeed the relief materials get to the target populace.” She said.
Meanwhile, the farmers lauded the initiative for the proposed assistance which they believed will go a long way in helping them in recovering their losses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Abiodun Olajire, the Chairman, De-Kings Coop, said physical meeting with farmers would enable the government to interphase directly with farmers.
He said this is to help in evaluating the impact of covid-19 on them and identify thier needs sequel to plan by the agencies to cater for 15,000 farm households and 69 food markets.
Alhaja Fatima Olushomo, the chairperson of Aseyori Fish Farmers Group, said the meeting is avenue to state the areas they need government’s assistance, “The programme is okay.
Also, Chairman of Unique Group, Mr. Abdulfatai Abdulkareem, commended Lagos State government for the gesture while stressing that they have been expecting the development for over a year.
Similarly, Success Group of Crop Farmers’ Chairperson, Mrs Joy Agu, lauded the initiative, labelling it as a welcome idea which looks likely to be accomplished.
While appreciating the initiative, the Chairman of Gberigbe Farmers Community Association, Mr. Teniola Stephen, reminisced on the impact of COVID-19 on their business as they counted their losses during the pandemic.
“Actually, aid from government and Fadama will help the farmers because a lot of us suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, some of us have issues with all of our birds and since then, there was no assistance,” he said
FAdama is an agric agency saddled with the responsibility of managing farmers at the local areas.
FAdama borrowed from Hausa Language which means “a land that is capable of being irrigated”. Usually, it refers to low-level plains located by water-bearing rocks, also known as aquifers.
One can easily identify a Fadama area because it has tendencies to get flooded during the rainy season.
